Johannesburg — SA RUGBY, in conjunction with the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Fund, yesterday took a giant leap towards reducing the occurrence of catastrophic injuries in the sport with the launch of its ground-breaking BokSmart programme.

The programme aims to provide coaches and referees at all levels with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure safety and best practice in the hope of reducing the number of serious neck, head and spinal injuries to rugby players.

Over the past few years several players have suffered serious injuries -- something SA Rugby is determined to eradicate.

A similar programme implemented by the New Zealand Rugby Union resulted in a 15% decrease in neck, spine, shoulder and knee injuries over a five-year period.

Leading South African sports scientist Tim Noakes -- who assisted in developing the programme along with former Springbok physiotherapist Clint Readhead and former Lions team doctor Jon Patricios -- was delighted about the programme. "It has been 29 years coming and for those who were involved, it was worth the wait," he said. "This programme is equivalent to the best in the world.

"Often South Africans are reluctant to do things differently and they don't want to be told what to do. But we have done all the work, so those at the centre of the game have to take responsibility for the implementation of the programme and be accountable."

Apart from educating coaches and referees about the best techniques to use for safe scrummaging, it provides information on how to condition players to prevent neck and other serious injuries and ways to treat acute spinal injuries.

Former Springbok captain and manager Morné du Plessis also endorsed the programme and said that, although it would be challenging to implement countrywide at all levels, it was imperative for the safety and growth of the game.