Heat guidelines
Implementation of the World Rugby Heat & Air Quality Guidelines
In extreme weather conditions, to ensure player safety an objective assessment of the environment is required to assist in determining the safety of the prevailing conditions.
Game Day Interventions should be implemented once the Heat Stress Index (HSI) is above 150. The HSI is determined using a combination of temperature and and humidity and wind speed (see guidelines)
If practical, training and playing should be scheduled when ambient temperatures, radiant heat (direct sunlight) and humidity are expected to be at acceptable levels. Utilising the Heat Stress Index, a guide to acceptable levels would be:
- temperature ≤ 30 degrees Celsius
- humidity ≤ 60%
There is no evidence to suggest training or playing at higher temperature and humidity levels will result in a heat illness.
Procedure
- The MDD should assess the HSI (directly on EMU or Kestrel system, or via Meteorological data) .
- If the HSI is above 150 heat active cooling measures should be implemented, and escalated according to guidelines.
- The MDD should then meet with the match manager and referee to inform them of the information and recommendation.
- Once a position is agreed (especially with relation to proposed water breaks), the match manager will inform the following parties of the water breaks:
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- Confirm with all match officials
- Both team managers
- Ground announcer
- Event staff
- Broadcaster floor manager
- This is an independent process run by the MDD in consultation with both Team Doctors. The decision to implement the Game Day Interventions lies with the MDD and, if no MDD, then the referee.