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Women in Rugby Careers: Medicine & Healthcare

  • Writer: Milly Gibson
    Milly Gibson
  • Aug 29, 2024
  • 2 min read

Are you an upcoming or current medical student considering their future career? Or a doctor looking for inspiration on where to go next? Whatever level of training you're at, it's not too late or early to turn your interest in rugby and sport into a dream career. Whether it be a side hobby to earn some more cash or you plan on working up the rankings to be your chosen international teams first port of call for medicine, a career as a rugby team/matchday doctor is a fulfilling and exciting option.


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Unfortunately we can't all be as multi-talented as England international winger and Exeter medical student Immanuel Feyi-Waboso or Bristol bears prop and Junior doctor Dr Simi Pam, but there are other ways to put your passion for the game into use through your medical career. And if that wasn't inspiring enough, read this piece on Dr Katy Hornby (sports and exercise medicine consultant) recently becoming the first female doctor for the England Rugby men's team and her advice for women in the sector. For more insight on life as a travelling team doctor, Dr James Robson's international career as a dual physiotherapist and rugby doctor spanning 30 years is covered in this British and Irish Lions feature.



What is a team doctor?

Team doctors provide healthcare to the players of a rugby team, including at home and away matches for sports injury and the players general wellness. There are usually two travelling doctors with the team, as HIAs can take a doctor away from the pitch side for 10 minutes at a time. 

 

How can I become a team doctor?

After completing medical school, foundation years and specialist training (in any area but commonly general practice), you can either take up a sports and exercise medicine training post or do additional qualifications in sports and exercise medicine (diploma/BSc/MSc). To continue a career as a team doctor you will need to sit the pre-hospital immediate care in sport (PHICS) course annually. Usually you can start by gaining experience in local/amateur clubs voluntarily or paid, then working your way up to the national/international teams if desired.

 

Who do rugby team doctors work with?

Team doctors have the benefit of working in a large and varied team of professionals, liaising with the opposition team doctors, paramedics, head injury video system professionals, physiotherapists and coaching staff to name a few.


What is a match day doctor?

Match day doctors provide further medical support, including supporting team doctors, adjudicating blood injury substitutions, suturing, requesting and undertaking HIAs, enforcing permanent removal of players from the pitch.


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And if you're an allied healthcare professional like a paramedic or physiotherapist (with a more obvious pathway into a rugby-related career and covered in another post) or a nurse/ANP, there are options out there for less obvious roles in a rugby team. Consider the importance of a range of specialties that a rugby player/team will require - from sports psychology and dietetics to cutting edge research on brain and breast injury and protection (see some World Rugby funded projects here).



 
 
 

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