C4.17.7 Rugby Goggles

C4.17.7 Rugby Goggles

The RFU regulations prohibit the wearing of spectacles for any type of contact rugby however there are currently no requirements to remove spectacles for “non-contact activities” such as touch rugby, walking rugby and Under 8 and below age grade variations.

Regulation 9- Player Safety Effective from August 2020 from the RFU remains in place as per below:

RFU REGULATION 9 – PLAYER SAFETY 1 Effective from 1 August 2020

Goggles

9.7 Subject to the extra conditions specified for Age Grade players by RFU Regulation 15.10, players are permitted to wear specifically designed sports goggles in all forms of contact rugby where the following conditions are satisfied:

a. The sports goggles must be dispensed by a General Optical Council (“GOC”) registered dispensing optician or an optometrist registered with the GOC; and

b. The player must have written confirmation from the registered dispensing optician or optometrist that:

  1. The goggles are required to correct the vision of the player or are required to protect the player’s eyes due to a medical or optical condition, to enable the playing of rugby union; and
  2. The goggles do not substantially restrict any normal field of vision and are suitable for use in evasion contact sports; and
  3. The goggles do not constitute a physical danger to the player or other players; and
  4. The player is not capable of wearing contact lenses and why this is the case.

Goggles should not be routinely supplied for players who do not fall into the category as outlined in RFU Regulation 9.7 b:part 1 as above.

Considering the above regulations ABDO & RFU recommends that dispensing opticians use their professional clinical judgement to supply and fit goggles suitable for contact sports from suppliers of their choice.

Confirmation in writing may be requested by match officials that:

1.The player is not capable of wearing contact lenses

2.That the player requires goggles for correction of vision and/or protection due to a medical/optical condition.

In order to clarify which player is likely to be involved in “non-contact” or “contact” variants of the sport the RFU have shared the table below. It is important to seek absolute clarification from the patient about the type of activity they will be involved in.