Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 3:02 pm on 4 October 2017.
Sport Wales, my officials and I are in regular contact with the national governing bodies of sport and, of course, responsibility rests with them as well in terms of making sure that individuals who participate in those sports do so safely. I know that the governing bodies have taken good leadership in this area. For example, the rugby union have published their own concussion guidance and this is reviewed yearly by the WRU medical advisory committee. They’ve also said that concussion is a priority area for them and they’re working particularly with referees over the course of this year. There are also mandatory concussion protocols that are enforced in the international, professional and the semi-professional game, and that again is delivered through the WRU minimum standards criteria document. That is audited on an annual basis as well. The Welsh Football Trust is soon to provide their own concussion guidance, because there have been some concerns raised previously about heading balls, for example. So, concussion guidance is coming very shortly from the Welsh Football Trust. That will be disseminated to all clubs in Wales, with leaflets and posters available to assist with awareness raising of these issues.