London IRB Medical Conference focuses on injury prevention

Posted on Nov 1, 2010 in Rugby News

The International Rugby Board has announced further details of the programme for the 2010 IRB Medical Conference, which will be held in London from November 3-5.

Under the central theme of Putting Players First, the Conference will bring together physicians from 25 Member Unions, independent medical experts and playing representatives to drive global best-practice policy implementation and dissemination and discuss player welfare matters at both the elite and community level. A central focus of the event will be injury prevention and player welfare best practice implementation.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The welfare of players at all levels of the Game is of critical importance to the IRB and its 117 Member Unions and the expanded IRB Medical Conference programme reflects the continued commitment within the global Rugby family to Putting Players First."

“Collectively, a lot has already been achieved. We now have a universal system of injury reporting and expert medical groups have devised policy on key areas, including concussion management, cardiac screening and training and education best practice. But more can be done. The outcomes from the Conference must, and will, drive policy making and the continued dissemination of information to those playing, coaching and officiating the Game."

"The inaugural IRB Medical Conference in 2009 provided an excellent first step in a new integrated approach for Unions to share information and discuss global medical issues. We are committed to ensuring that this year’s Conference will be a catalyst for enhanced player welfare practices from grass roots to the elite level.”

Following the success of the inaugural Medical Conference, which delivered a suite of player welfare and medical recommendations, the event has been extended to three days to accommodate an expanded programme of expert presentations, group discussions and policy recommendations.

Keynote speakers during the three-day event include Arsenal team doctor Gary O’Driscoll, Scotland and British & Irish Lions doctor James Robson, Professor Bill McKenna from UCL partners and former Scotland international Thom Evans.

Notes to Editors

Day 1 – November 3: The Conference will open with meetings of the four specialist IRB Medical Working Groups established as a recommendation from the 2009 Conference to drive best-practice policy in concussion management, spinal cord injury management, gender issues and implementation of cross-Union best-practice medical and player welfare policies.

Day 2 – November 4: The programme for the second day will provide the opportunity for physicians from 25 Unions, along with playing and refereeing representatives and independent medical experts, to consider the latest research and expert medical opinion on injury prevention, cardiac screening and injury reporting and management, while delegates will identify key focus areas for the IRB to consider through its Medical Strategies. The keynote speakers will be Arsenal team doctor Gary O’Driscoll, Scotland and British & Irish Lions doctor James Robson and Professor Bill McKenna from UCL partners.

Day 3 – November 5: The keynote speaker on day three will be former Scotland international Thom Evans, who will kick off a workshop session on catastrophic injury and emergency care best practice, while the delegates will also consider the player welfare benefits of GPS technology, best-practice match day medical protocols and scrum forces. In a conference first, Niall Woods (IRPA), Didier Retier (France forwards coach), Paddy O’Brien (IRB Elite Referee Manager) and Stuart Dickinson (IRB Referee) will moderate a special player, coach and referee session to focus on issues relating to the playing of the Game.

Conference Speakers: Bill Beaumont (IRB Vice Chairman), Dr Mick Molloy (IRB Chief Medical Officer), Dr Colin Fuller (IRB & FIFA Risk Management Consultant), Andrew Gray (Athletic Data Innovations), Dr Lyn Griffiths (Medical Protection Society), Professor Bill McKenna (UCL Partners), Dr Gary O’Driscoll (Arsenal FC), Andy Smith (Course Director RFU Immediate Care in Sport programme), Dr Grant Trewartha (University of Bath), Thom Evans (Former Scotland International), Adam Pearson (Sport Development Resources Ltd), Dr Martin Raftery (Medical Director, Australian Rugby Union), Dr Mike England (Community Rugby Medical Director, RFU), Dr Simon Kemp (Head of Sports Medicine, RFU), Didier Retiere (National Team Forwards Coach, FFR), Rob Nichol (Chief Executive Officer, IRPA), Niall Woods (IRPA), Dr Steve Targett (RWC Tournament Medical Director), Dr Alin Popescu (Medical Coordinator, FRR), Dr James Robson (Head of Medical Services, SRU), Dr Roger Evans (Chief Medical Officer, WRU).

Clark appointed GM of Highlands Super Rugby franchise

Posted on Oct 11, 2010 in Rugby News

Rugby Southland CEO Roger Clark has been appointed General Manager of the Highlanders’ Super Rugby franchise.

Clark has for the last four months been the Highlanders’ Project Manager on a secondment funded by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and has played an important role in both the on and off field re-structuring of the Highlanders’ franchise to date.

Clark’s employment is the first of a number of direct appointments intended to be made by the Highlanders before the start of the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season. In announcing the appointment, Highlanders’ Chairman Ross Laidlaw said:

"Roger was the standout applicant for this new position. He has 12 years’ experience as a rugby administrator and is highly respected as such both within the franchise region and beyond. One of Roger’s many tasks will be to build and lead an off field Highlanders’ management group – handling the franchise’s commercial, marketing, high performance and team management functions – which will work closely alongside Coach Jamie Joseph and his boys on the paddock."

Laidlaw also acknowledged the assistance and support of both the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Highlanders’ three regional provincial unions in relation the management re-structuring.

Meanwhile, Clark is looking forward to, but does not under estimate, the challenges of his new role:

"My principal task is to establish and maintain the Highlanders’ franchise as a commercially viable organisation. A continuation of significant operating deficits is not acceptable. There are many other important things to do. To build and maintain relationships with all our stakeholders; to assist Jamie Joseph in establishing a Highlander identity and culture, which will hopefully encourage the community to engage with the Highlanders; and to work with our provincial unions, particularly in the areas of player identification, development, recruitment and retention."

Rugby Southland Chairman Owen Shaw, acknowledged Clark’s contribution as CEO of the Stags:

"Roger has been instrumental in leading a resurgence of rugby in Southland as our CEO for the last 12 years. Whilst we are naturally disappointed to lose him, we are 100 per cent behind the new Highlanders’ leadership and wish Roger every success in his new role. We recognise how important it is for rugby in our region that the Highlanders is a successful franchise.”

Clark’s appointment takes effect immediately, but he will remain available to Rugby Southland to ensure a smooth transition to his successor.

Welshman Paul Pook steps down from Irish coaching staff

Posted on Oct 4, 2010 in Rugby News

The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced that the Ireland Team Strength and Conditioning Coach Paul Pook has decided to step down from the position due to personal reasons.

The Welsh native joined the Ireland coaching staff in 2008 with a renowned CV in the area of sports science and specifically rugby fitness having worked with the

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NZRU appoints General Manager, Public Affairs

Posted on Sep 30, 2010 in Rugby News

The New Zealand Rugby Union has today announced the appointment of Nick Brown as General Manager, Public Affairs.

Mr Brown is currently Head of Communications and Brand at Alcatel-Lucent (New Zealand and Pacific), a global telecommunications organisation, and will start in the newly-created position in November.

His role will encompass management of the NZRU’s communications, government relations, media management, charities, and online and social media responsibilities.

An experienced communications executive, Mr Brown has held a range of senior roles in the public affairs area including Head of PR and Sponsorship at Telecom New Zealand where he led the company’s NZRU and All Blacks partnership activities.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said the organisation was pleased to be able to announce such a high–calibre appointee for this newly created and vitally important role.

“The relationships the NZRU has with the multitude of different and diverse organisations and people involved in our game, including our fans, is hugely important and we look forward to having Nick on board to help us further develop those relationships,” he said.

Mr Brown said he is pleased to be joining the organisation at what is an exciting time for the sport in New Zealand.

“It’s a busy period ahead for rugby at every level of the game. I’m looking forward to being part of the NZRU team as they prioritise connecting with all audience groups in relevant and engaging ways,” he said.

Powell removed from Welsh Squad

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The Wales national squad management team has confirmed back row forward Andy Powell will be removed from the Welsh 35-man RBS 6 Nations squad with immediate effect, following his arrest by  South Wales Police  on Sunday morning and has since been charged with drink driving and, after discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.

“We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously and have been happy with the professionalism and discipline of this squad in general terms,” said Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

“Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.
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