Prem clubs have agreed to overhaul contact training protocols in a landmark deal with the Rugby Players' Association (RPA). The new guidelines will standardize how clubs monitor and report contact sessions, requiring players to wear Instrumented Mouthguards during training. This follows years of advocacy by the RPA to improve concussion tracking and reduce long-term neurological risks.

The agreement addresses chronic overuse of contact drills, with data showing 36% of players engaged in contact training within their first pre-season week. While World Rugby recommended limiting contact to 15 minutes weekly since 2021, Prem clubs previously exceeded this. The updated rules introduce a graduated return to contact, starting with no physical collisions in week one and full resumption only by week four. Clubs violating the terms risk fines or disciplinary action.

Former England captain Steve Thompson, diagnosed with early-onset dementia linked to rugby-related brain trauma, and current England player Ben Youngs—who produced a BBC documentary on player safety—have championed these changes. Youngs emphasized that regulating contact is "the next step for elite rugby."

Prem Rugby director Phil Winstanley called the move essential to the league's goal of becoming the world's best. The reforms, set for the 2026/27 season, may expand to women's rugby, signaling a cultural shift toward prioritizing player welfare over traditional training norms.