Johannesburg - The drive to eliminate injuries at all levels of rugby in South Africa has intensified with the introduction of rules as laid down
by Boksmart, an organisation launched jointly by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson fund.
The Boksmart rules were ratified at SARU's Annual General Meeting in Cape Town last week and will come into play immediately,
although it will only be fully enforced next year.
The rules will see to it that officials at a rugby match are Boksmart certified so that players are not exposed to injury risks
and that correct medical advice/attention is immediately available at the time an injury is sustained.
According to Dr Wayne Viljoen, SARU's BokSmart project manager, the Boksmart initiative has already proved its worth in the past
few weeks as certified officials acted on injuries on occasions when coaches and other team officials insisted that players
continue playing after receiving basic first-aid attention on the field.
"These regulations have the potential to radically change the landscape of injury prevention in South African rugby for the rest
of time," said Viljoen.
"The provinces have shown real leadership by embracing these changes and the onus is now on all of the rugby community to
deliver. If we do, we'll be making the game safer and more enjoyable for all the participants." BokSmart is sponsored by Absa,
and also enjoys huge cash inputs from SARU and the the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson fund, which for many years have played a
meaningful role in the lives if players who sustained serious injuries as a result of playing rugby.
Since July 2009 Boksmart have conducted more than 208 workshops across the 14 South African rugby unions and to date have certified
5 493 referees and coaches.
As from 2011 all rugby matches in South Africa will not be allowed to take place next year unless the participating coaches
and match officials are BokSmart certified.
Some of the rules will be enforced as early as April 1, 2010.
Two rules that will be applied soon are for players younger than 18 and 19 years old. Under 18s not be allowed to play senior rugby in
any position without special waiver.
"The new Under Aged regulations are also there to ensure that younger players are not put at unnecessary risk of catastrophic
injury," said Viljoen. "Only those younger players who potentially possess those attributes to compete at senior elite level will be
allowed to apply for the waiver of restrictions."
"This is a positive step towards rugby safety in South Africa,"
said Springbok legend Morne Du Plessis. "After a few years of deliberations, workshops and discussions, and after interacting
with other countries, I am proud that we would have regulations in place that will look after rugby safety.
"We have an enormous task of making the game of rugby safe, so I am pleased that our rugby authority (SARU) has approved these
measures to try and make the sport safer for all participants." - Sapa