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Johannesburg - Organised rugby matches in South Africa will not be allowed to take place next year unless the participating coaches and match officials are BokSmart certified.
The ruling was one of several decisions ratified by the provincial unions at the SARU Annual General Meeting on Friday. The impact of the new rules will be to improve rugby’s safety record as part of the wide-ranging BokSmart national rugby safety programme.
The key regulations approved by the provinces include:
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools shall not be allowed to host any match without ensuring that all match officials and participating coaches are BokSmart certified.
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools must comply with these regulations and ensure that they inform all their members of the regulations and their obligation.
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools must ensure that all affiliated match officials and coaches are BokSmart certified and their details recorded.
· As of 1 April this year, players younger than 18 years old shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in any position, at any level of rugby under the auspices of SARU or any of its provincial unions, without special waiver.
· As of 1 April this year, players younger than 19 years old shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in the front row at any level of rugby under the auspices of SARU or any of its provincial unions, without special waiver.
· Only players who have been identified within the provincial or national structures with the potential to play at elite provincial level or above can apply for a waiver.
“These regulations have the potential to radically change the landscape of injury prevention in South African rugby for the rest of time,” said Dr Wayne Viljoen, SARU’s BokSmart project manager.
“The provinces have shown real leadership by embracing these changes and the onus is now on all of the rugby community to deliver. If we do, we’ll be making the game safer and more enjoyable for all the participants.”
BokSmart, which is sponsored by Absa, has conducted more than 208 workshops across the 14 South African rugby unions, certifying a total of 5 493 referees and coaches since its launch in July 2009.
All South Africa’s national panel referees have completed the five-hour training course while Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu is the first of SARU’s national coaches to have attended the course.
“We estimate that the unions will be certifying approximately 20 000 coaches and referees between now and January 1, 2011,” said Viljoen.
“We acknowledge that it is a mammoth challenge but providing a safe game for our players is one of the core focus areas of SARU and the 14 provinces.
“The new Under Aged regulations are also there to ensure that younger players are not put at unnecessary risk of catastrophic injury. Only those younger players who potentially possess those attributes to compete at senior elite level will be allowed to apply for the waiver of restrictions.”
BokSmart grew out of the ground-breaking work of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund over the past 30 years and their collaboration with SARU.
“This is a positive step towards rugby safety in South Africa,” said Morne du Plessis, chairperson of the Fund.
“After a few years of deliberations, workshops and discussions, and after interacting with other countries, I am proud that we would have regulations in place that will look after rugby safety.
“We have an enormous task of making the game of rugby safe, so I am pleased that our rugby authority has approved these measures to try and make the sport safer for all participants.”
The BokSmart certification will be valid for two years, where after it must be renewed. A two-month grace period will be provided after the expiry date on the licence card in order to undergo the latest course.
Rugby coaches and referees who wish to learn about completing the BokSmart course or wish to get more information on the SARU Under-aged rugby policy should go to www.BokSmart.com or contact their Union directly for more information.
The ruling was one of several decisions ratified by the provincial unions at the SARU Annual General Meeting on Friday. The impact of the new rules will be to improve rugby’s safety record as part of the wide-ranging BokSmart national rugby safety programme.
The key regulations approved by the provinces include:
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools shall not be allowed to host any match without ensuring that all match officials and participating coaches are BokSmart certified.
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools must comply with these regulations and ensure that they inform all their members of the regulations and their obligation.
· Provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools must ensure that all affiliated match officials and coaches are BokSmart certified and their details recorded.
· As of 1 April this year, players younger than 18 years old shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in any position, at any level of rugby under the auspices of SARU or any of its provincial unions, without special waiver.
· As of 1 April this year, players younger than 19 years old shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in the front row at any level of rugby under the auspices of SARU or any of its provincial unions, without special waiver.
· Only players who have been identified within the provincial or national structures with the potential to play at elite provincial level or above can apply for a waiver.
“These regulations have the potential to radically change the landscape of injury prevention in South African rugby for the rest of time,” said Dr Wayne Viljoen, SARU’s BokSmart project manager.
“The provinces have shown real leadership by embracing these changes and the onus is now on all of the rugby community to deliver. If we do, we’ll be making the game safer and more enjoyable for all the participants.”
BokSmart, which is sponsored by Absa, has conducted more than 208 workshops across the 14 South African rugby unions, certifying a total of 5 493 referees and coaches since its launch in July 2009.
All South Africa’s national panel referees have completed the five-hour training course while Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu is the first of SARU’s national coaches to have attended the course.
“We estimate that the unions will be certifying approximately 20 000 coaches and referees between now and January 1, 2011,” said Viljoen.
“We acknowledge that it is a mammoth challenge but providing a safe game for our players is one of the core focus areas of SARU and the 14 provinces.
“The new Under Aged regulations are also there to ensure that younger players are not put at unnecessary risk of catastrophic injury. Only those younger players who potentially possess those attributes to compete at senior elite level will be allowed to apply for the waiver of restrictions.”
BokSmart grew out of the ground-breaking work of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund over the past 30 years and their collaboration with SARU.
“This is a positive step towards rugby safety in South Africa,” said Morne du Plessis, chairperson of the Fund.
“After a few years of deliberations, workshops and discussions, and after interacting with other countries, I am proud that we would have regulations in place that will look after rugby safety.
“We have an enormous task of making the game of rugby safe, so I am pleased that our rugby authority has approved these measures to try and make the sport safer for all participants.”
The BokSmart certification will be valid for two years, where after it must be renewed. A two-month grace period will be provided after the expiry date on the licence card in order to undergo the latest course.
Rugby coaches and referees who wish to learn about completing the BokSmart course or wish to get more information on the SARU Under-aged rugby policy should go to www.BokSmart.com or contact their Union directly for more information.
