The officer will work in consultation with member unions and management staff and will be charged with establishing a comprehensive IRB medical strategy.
This will include research and planning in several areas, including player hydration, playing commitments, player injury data collection and analysis and playing equipment.
To further back the organisation’s commitment to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, the IRB will introduce blood testing procedures into its anti-doping programmes, with A and B samples analysed in the same WADA laboratory.
Further research is also to take place on the concept of an integrated season for rugby under the auspices of a Working Party chaired by Bernard Lapasset. With representatives from both the northern and southern hemispheres it will review the feasibility work already undertaken by Deloitte Touche.
The IRB council also deemed the IRB should be responsible for all forms of the game, and member unions must now incorporate their respective women’s union into affiliation or membership.
A strategic plan for women’s rugby in line with the current IRB Strategic Plan will be funded by the IRB.
