A NEW HEAD guard advertised as being the first scientifically proven piece of equipment to provide impact protection has been prohibited for use at any level by World Rugby.

The makers of N-Pro claim it is proven to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury and is designed to reduce the G-force energy transferred to a player’s head during impact.

However, World Rugby has this afternoon released a statement stating that until independent tests are carried out in a competition environment, the product does not comply with Regulation 12 or Law 4.

The product, which took three years to develop after extensive research, is the brainchild of Contego Sports Ltd, a company based in Galway.

“Given the potential advertised player welfare benefits of the product, World Rugby is examining the possibility of implementing a controlled trial to test the product’s safety and performance independently and robustly,” a statement from the sport’s governing body read.

“It is intended that data from this trial will provide evidence to allow a responsible recommendation to be made on the product’s efficacy.

“With player welfare at its heart, this is a standard process of due diligence and is implemented whenever a medical product featuring new technology has been developed. A successful outcome would result in the product being awarded the necessary ‘approved by World Rugby’ mark.

“Throughout the product’s development, the manufacturer has been aware that until such a scientific approval process has been undertaken, World Rugby cannot permit the use of the N-Pro product in competition at any level.”

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