Sports Goggles

Wearing sports goggles in adult rugby is governed by Regulation 9.7 of the RFU Regs and in youth rugby by Regulation 15.

A referee may query with a player or coach whether an individual’s goggles meet all the requirements of the Regulations. If told that they do, the referee should not enquire any further or ask to see any documentary proof. The responsibility for complying with the Regulations lies with the player and their club.

Regulation for Sports Goggles in Adult Rugby

9.7 Subject to the extra conditions specified for Age Grade players by RFU Regulation 15.10, players are permitted to wear specifically designed sports goggles in all forms of contact rugby where the following conditions are satisfied:

• • a. the sports goggles must be dispensed by a General Optical Council (“GOC”) registered dispensing optician or an optometrist registered with the GOC; and
  • b. the player must have written confirmation from the registered dispensing optician or optometrist that:
    • i. the goggles are required to correct the vision of the player or are required to protect the player’s eyes due to a medical or optical condition, to enable the playing of rugby union; and
    • ii. the goggles do not substantially restrict any normal field of vision and are suitable for use in evasion contact sports; and
    • iii. the goggles do not constitute a physical danger to the player or other players; and
    • iv. the player is not capable of wearing contact lenses and why this is the case.
• 9.8 Clubs must report any injuries caused as a result of the sports goggles to the RFU Community Medical Team by emailing sportsinjuriesadmin@rfu.com and the player must report the injury to the dispensing optician or optometrist who prescribed the goggles.
• Note: If an optician/optometrist is registered with the GOC they will be listed on the GOC’s list of registered members which is available at www.optical.org. Please check the list by inserting the name of the individual optician/optometrist.

Regulation for Sports Goggles in Youth Rugby

15.10.2 Players of all age grades are permitted to wear spectacles, glasses or specifically designed sports goggles in all forms of non-contact rugby. Players are permitted to wear specifically designed sports goggles in any form of contact rugby only where the following conditions are satisfied:

• • (a) the sports goggles must be dispensed by a General Optical Council (“GOC”) registered dispensing optician or an optometrist registered with the GOC; and
  • (b) the player must have written confirmation from the registered dispensing optician or optometrist that:
    • i. the goggles are required to correct the vision of the player or are required to protect the player’s eyes due to a medical or optical condition, to enable the playing of rugby union; and
    • ii. the goggles do not substantially restrict any normal field of vision and are suitable for use in evasion contact sports; and
    • iii. the goggles do not constitute a physical danger to the player or other players; and
    • iv. the player is not capable of wearing contact lenses and why this is the case; and
  • (c) the player must have the consent of their parents or guardian to the wearing of the sports goggles.