The Rugby Football League (RFL) consults with a variety of international experts on sport-related injuries and has detailed policy documents that are updated on a regular basis in light of new information. The RFL medical staff also attend on a regular basis, high level international meetings on sport-related injuries to ensure harmonisation of its practices with international consensus views.

The overwhelming view of international experts in sport-related head injury is that soft helmets do not prevent brain injury (as opposed to superficial head injury) and because of the phenomenon of 'risk compensation' there is a risk that encouraging helmet use in children and adolescents may paradoxically increase the head injury rates.

Because of this medical consensus, the RFL does not support the mandatory wearing of protective head guards in rugby league.