In a significant step for player welfare, the National Rugby League has introduced limits on contact during training sessions to address injury risks, particularly concussions.
This initiative aims to lower injury rates, especially concerning brain health, which remains a pressing matter in contact sports globally.
On the eve of the season, all 17 NRL clubs were notified that players would be restricted to a maximum of 100 minutes of contact training during a regular week.
For the upcoming NRLW season, set to commence in July 2026, female athletes will be limited to 85 minutes of contact training within a seven-day period.
These guidelines encompass wrestling as part of the training regimen.
Under these new rules, NRL and NRLW teams will be allowed up to 40 or 50 minutes of contact training when on a five- or six-day turnaround.
The revised preseason regulations stipulate a cap of 200 minutes of contact training for men and 115 minutes for women each week.
Experts in sports neuroscience and neurology had urged major Australian leagues like the NRL and AFL to impose such restrictions to safeguard players against concussions and similar injuries.
Similarly, World Rugby and the NFL have already adopted contact limitations in both their preseason and regular training to minimize brain impact exposure.