The battlefield to protect rugby league players’ brain health is shifting from game day to the training grounds, as concerning reports emerge about the “blind spot” of concussion management practices during the week. A recent survey conducted by the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) has lifted the lid on the largely unregulated world of training loads and repetitive impacts, with the union now calling for urgent reforms.
Pressure to Train Through Pain
One of the most alarming findings from the RLPA survey was that a significant proportion of players, particularly in the women’s game, felt pressured to continue training even after experiencing concussion symptoms. Almost half (46%) of NRLW players and over a third (36%) of their male counterparts admitted to training on after a suspected concussion.
“Shifting attitudes around reporting is essential to fostering a psychologically safe environment where players feel encouraged, not deterred, from prioritising their health and wellbeing,” the RLPA report states.
The Toll of Non-Concussive Impacts
While the spotlight has long shone brightest on game day concussions, cutting-edge brain injury research is increasingly pointing the finger at another, more insidious threat – the cumulative toll of repetitive non-concussive impacts sustained week in, week out on the training paddock.
These sub-concussive blows, which don’t necessarily result in visible symptoms, have flown under the radar of concussion protocols but may still contribute to long-term neurological damage, especially when multiplied over a player’s career. It’s an area the RLPA argues requires much greater scrutiny and regulation.
“A lot of it is PR spin and a lot of lip service, but we’re not seeing the action required, and that at all levels as well,” said Professor Alan Pearce, a concussion researcher at Swinburne University.
Reining in Contact Training
One area where many believe change is urgently needed is in how often players are subjected to full contact training. The RLPA survey found that while most NRL stars feel two contact sessions a week during pre-season is ideal, it’s common for coaches to schedule four or more.
It’s a workload some believe is not only excessive but dangerous, needlessly exposing players to hits that could take a neurological toll. Other collision sports like the NFL have already moved to strictly limit contact training, but the NRL has thus far resisted calls to follow suit.
“Protecting past, present and future players from risks to health and safety presented by sport-related concussion and other head trauma is a key priority for the AFL,” Stephen Meade, the AFL’s general counsel, told reporters when announcing their affiliated women’s competition will participate in a landmark concussion study.
Tracking Brain Trauma
Beyond simply dialing back contact, the RLPA argues the game must invest in better systems to monitor and manage the brain trauma risks players are exposed to. This includes using smart technology like impact-sensing mouth guards to track the frequency and severity of collisions in real-time.
Such granular data could help paint a clearer picture of each player’s individual concussion risk profile, allowing medical staff to make more informed decisions about their training participation and game readiness. The AFL is already trialing similar devices and the NRL is funding a study in this space, but progress has been slow.
“If they want to do these initiatives, they really should be engaging independent researchers and independent people to do this, in allowing full confidence of what we’re seeing,” Professor Pearce argued, stressing the need for any data collection to be at arm’s length from the leagues.
Change on the Horizon?
With the current collective bargaining agreement between the NRL and RLPA set to expire after the 2027 season, the union has put the league on notice that it will be pushing hard for greater concussion protections in the next deal, including strict training load limits.
Whether the notoriously change-resistant league will be willing to cede ground on its preseason practices remains to be seen. But with player welfare an increasingly unavoidable priority, the days of unfettered full contact training may be numbered.
As the concussion crisis casts an ever-longer shadow over the future of collision sports, it’s clear that what happens on the training track will be just as critical as game day in ensuring rugby league has a healthy future. The question is whether administrators are willing to tackle the issue head on.
