Player Welfare Guidance for the Community Game
The Welsh Rugby Union is committed to putting player welfare at the heart of the game.
The safety of all participants must be the primary consideration in all participation decisions, overriding all other considerations.
Most people involved in community rugby play for health and social reasons and those who express a desire to start playing rugby wish to do so to make friends and improve their health.
Rugby engages and teaches numerous skills that are transferable into everyday life such as respect, discipline, resilience, leadership and communication.
The WRU can provide player welfare support throughout our game to develop and enhance support and guidance for community game clubs. This includes guidance regarding mental health and wellbeing, maintaining injury surveillance and prevention projects, concussion protocols, gender participation eligibility and any other rugby welfare related matters both on and off the field.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is committed to putting player welfare at the heart of our game.
The aim is to provide education, guidance, and tools to help you live a healthier and happier life, because your Wellbeing Matters!
There are additional support organisations available for your Mental Health & Wellbeing all at a touch of the button.
Talking about your worries and problems can make things easier.
Speak to someone if you’re not okay.
The C.A.L.L Helpline (Mental Health Helpline Wales)
A dedicated mental health helpline for Wales, it can provide you with confidential listening and emotional support, and help you contact support that may be available in your local area. Call 0800 132 737 or text ‘help’ to 81066.
Mind Cymru Infoline
For information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication, alternative treatments, and advocacy. Call 0300 123 3393, email info@mind.org.uk or text 86463.
Samaritans Cymru
Offering a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. Call for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Papyrus
Young suicide prevention society. HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays).
Citizens Advice
Provides advice on financial support and can signpost you to other agencies who may be able to help you – 03444 77 20 20 (9am to 5pm, Mon – Fri).
NHS Direct
Extra help for your mental wellbeing is available across Wales, online and over the phone. These resources are safe, free, and you don’t need a referral, so take a look and see what can help you today.
Hafal
Is a Welsh mental health charity supporting those affected by serious mental illness in Wales. It is dedicated to improving the lives of people with a mental illness or physical disability and their carers.
The mission is simple; to place a mental health lead into every rugby club around the world, and equip them with a toolkit of resources to help #TackleTheStigma.
The Welsh Rugby Union community welfare staff have developed a positive relationship with the LooseHeadz rugby charity in the hope of ensuring that each rugby club in Wales will have a mental health lead person associated with them.
For more information, please visit their website: https://looseheadz.co.uk/pages/partnership-programme
Please see below link, which is a free resource which aims to provide young adults with a greater understanding of mental health and the signs you can look out for in young people.
https://looseheadz.learnworlds.com/course/youth-training-module?msg=signup
Lloyd Ashley delivers face to face sessions on awareness and education in Mental Health & Wellbeing.
The aim of the sessions are for athletes to understand the importance of looking after themselves mentally and physically.
LWLA specialise in elite sport lifestyles – competition selection, dealing with injuries, contract support, social media management and living as a role model.
LWLA aim to show athletes how they can access additional support, and how they in turn can be there to support their friends and family.
For further information please visit: https://www.lwla.co.uk/
Sometimes we can go through difficult experiences which will severely impact individual players. Sometimes, this can also affect a team, the club and its volunteers. They can unfortunately be distressing times and may need some specialised attention.
Osian Leader works with the School of Hard Knocks as a psychotherapist specialising in trauma and traumatic loss. He has extensive experience from working in the NHS, third sector, private practice, and sport settings, helping people find ways out of difficulties.
Osian has experience in a rugby club setting, by using support groups, psychoeducation, and helping individual players when circumstances became difficult. Osian can also help with conditions like depression and anxiety and even provide some training on thinking and feeling better. Osian is also fluent in both Welsh and English.