WP Rugby hits 2000 mark in BokSmart training
The Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) became the first South African provincial union to hit the 2000 mark in BokSmart training.
A total of 81 courses have been hosted at workshops under the auspices of the WPRFU with 2227 referees and coaches having now received BokSmart training.
“The Western Province Rugby Union has really embraced the BokSmart programme and what we are trying to achieve with this rugby safety initiative, and that is to reduce the number of serious and catastrophic head, neck and spine injuries associated with the game of rugby union,” said BokSmart Project Manager Dr Wayne Viljoen.
“This impressive milestone reached is largely due to the tireless efforts of Ben Theron and his team of BokSmart trainers within the WPRFU who are regularly coordinating and presenting these safety courses around the province.
“This has really sent a challenge out to the other Unions to do the same and push hard to get all their coaches and referees certified before the beginning of the next season.”
BokSmart, which is sponsored by Absa, has conducted more than 580 rugby safety workshops across the 14 South African rugby unions with a total of 12936 referees and coaches having been certified since its launch in July 2009.
The achievement leaves the BokSmart programme on track to realise its target of certifying a minimum of 20,000 coaches and referees nationally by the end of the year, before major new rugby safety regulations come into force at all levels of the game in 2011.
The new rules specify that provinces, clubs, rugby bodies and schools will not be allowed to host any matches without ensuring that all match officials and participating coaches are BokSmart certified.
For information on BokSmart, kindly visit www.BokSmart.com or for further details with regards to BokSmart and Absa’s 20 000 incentive competition follow the link at http://www.sarugby.co.za/boksmart/pressRelease.aspx?id=366861
Issued by SARU Communications
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