Medical Education Equivalence

Mapping the equivalence of pitch side medical care education courses - Final Report

Executive Summary

Following a similar exercise in 2017, World Rugby decided in 2024 that a comparative study involving the mapping of courses against World Rugby’s suite of pitch side medical care education courses would be a valuable piece of work. The European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE) were again commissioned by World Rugby to carry out the study.

The first activity of the project was to implement an online survey of member Unions, aimed at union personnel with responsibility for Medical Education. The survey confirmed that the majority of member Unions around the world deliver one or more of World Rugby’s pitch side medical care education courses through the global network of World Rugby Licenced Trainers and Educators.

Based on knowledge of the global pitch side medical care education landscape in rugby, as well as feedback from the online survey, World Rugby and EOSE identified the providers and courses to be included in the mapping and equivalency project. Course materials and key information about each course were collected and mapped for equivalence against World Rugby’s suite of pitch side medical care education courses across three levels. Data collected for each course included the title, duration, Educator ratio, aims, content, and pre-requisites.

The main output of the project is the Global Medical Care Education Equivalency Table (see below) which shows the equivalent courses at each level when mapped against World Rugby’s suite of pitch side medical care education courses.

The Report produced for the project also includes a summary of World Rugby’s pitch side medical care education courses, and a section titled “Brief discussion of key themes” which explores some of the key aspects of course design and delivery which were uncovered by the work to map and compare the courses.

Download the full Report here: Mapping and Equivalence of Pitch-Side Medical Care Education Courses

Many of these courses are accredited or endorsed by external organisations such as the Faculty of Pre-hospital care - Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.  

The fields which were included in the mapping study were:

• Title
• Course description
• Target group
• Format/ duration
• Instructor background/ ratio
• Aims/ Learning outcomes
• Assessment
• Pre-requisites
• Content areas
• Pre-course reading/ support material
• Timetable
• Quality assurance
• Accreditation
• Length of validity

Where courses have been suggested for equivalency which are not rugby specific, EOSE would recommend practitioners to gain reaccreditation in a rugby specific course if that is now the main sport they operate in.