Does Rugby Headgear Prevent Concussion?

No rugby headgear can prevent concussion. What it actually protects against, what the research says, and how to fit it for junior and senior players.

No rugby headgear can prevent concussion. No brand, no foam, no design. If a product promises to stop concussions, that is your cue to walk away. Here is the honest version: what headgear does, what it does not, and how to pick a pair that actually fits.

Does rugby headgear prevent concussion?

No. The research does not support headgear preventing concussion, and no headgear is approved on that basis. World Rugby permits padded headgear on the basis that it does not harm the wearer or the opponent, not on the basis that it stops head injuries. Anyone telling you a soft foam cap will prevent a concussion is selling you something we would not.

What does rugby headgear actually protect against?

This is where headgear earns its place. Worn for the right reasons, it does real work:

Cuts and abrasions. Padded coverage helps protect against the cuts, grazes and friction that come with tackles, rucks and contact training.
Your ears. It provides coverage around the ears, which is why forwards who spend their afternoons in scrums and rucks tend to wear it.
Comfort and confidence. A cap that fits and stays put lets you commit to contact without thinking about it. That is worth more than most players expect.

None of that is concussion protection. All of it is genuine, and all of it is why players keep wearing headgear season after season.

What does the research say?

Conventional headgear is made from soft foams that flatten on impact, so they absorb collision forces only minimally. Newer research is exploring different materials that may reduce a player's total impact burden across a season, which could matter for long-term brain health (The Conversation, 2025). That work is ongoing and specific to new experimental materials. It is not the same as preventing concussion, and it is not a claim we make about our headgear. GearFit headgear is standard padded EVA foam, and we will always tell you exactly what that does and does not do.

Should juniors and kids wear rugby headgear?

That is a parent's call, and plenty make it. Junior players often wear headgear for the cut and abrasion protection, for the coverage around the ears, and for the confidence of feeling protected in contact. Just go in clear-eyed: it is not a concussion device for your child any more than it is for an adult. For juniors, fit matters most, because a cap that slides around does none of its job well.

How to choose rugby headgear that fits

A good fit sits level, stays put when you shake your head, and feels snug without pressing. Measure around the widest part of your head, just above the eyebrows and ears, and match it to your size:

Small: 50 to 54cm. Junior and younger players.
Medium: 54 to 58cm. Older juniors and most adults.
Large: 58 to 62cm. Larger adult fit.

Between sizes? Size up, and use the adjustable chin strap to fine-tune it. For the full method, measurements and fit checks, read our junior and adult headgear sizing guide or the size guide.

What GearFit headgear is built for

GearFit rugby headgear is built for contact and designed for comfort and confidence, in junior and adult sizes, for rugby league and rugby union. It provides coverage around the ears and helps protect against cuts and abrasions, with a light, breathable build and an adjustable chin strap that holds through tackles. Choose a bold single colour or a black cross design.

We will never tell you it does more than it does. What it does, it does well.