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Child Protection

Our rugby clubs are a great place for tamariki to learn and grow. Part of giving them a great experience is keeping them safe. That means understanding the risks children can face, and stopping harm before it happens while they are in rugby’s care.

Safe Clubs Safe Kids is New Zealand Rugby’s Child Safeguarding and Protection Programme. Everyone involved with tamariki has a part to play:

  • Be a kaitiaki for our tamariki

  • Look out for signs of abuse

  • Act on all concerns

  • Get support

BEFORE YOU START COACHING

  • Police vetting. NZR police vets all junior coaches on behalf of Provincial Unions and clubs. Check with your club that yours is done.
  • Safeguarding training. Anyone coaching or managing Under 18s is expected to complete safeguarding training. From the 2027 season, complete the Safeguarding 101 e-learn on LineBreak (log in through your Rugby Xplorer profile so your learning is recorded).
  • Know your people. Find out who your club or Provincial Union Safe Kids Advisor is, and how to contact them.

BE A KAITIAKI FOR OUR TAMARIKI

A safe and welcoming environment is one of the best ways to prevent harm. Prevention starts with the culture you build.

  • At the start of the season, agree a team charter or code of conduct that sets out how everyone will behave, including players, coaches and caregivers.
  • Read your club’s Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy and the NZR Travel Guidelines. Know who your Safe Kids Advisor is and how to raise a concern.
  • Talk about the policy with caregivers and let them know how to contact your Safe Kids Advisor.
  • Deal with bullying, sexually inappropriate play or fighting straight away. It shows everyone what is and isn’t okay.
  • Use age-appropriate language and speak to the team positively, so tamariki feel safe and supported.
  • Encourage tamariki to talk about their worries. Listen, believe them and act.
  • Keep the sideline positive. Support the players with enthusiasm and encourage other supporters to do the same.

Practical tips

Follow the Rule of 2. Avoid being alone with a child. Supervise changing rooms in pairs, knock before entering where tamariki are changing, and keep trainings group-based.

Messaging. If you need to contact a child, always include their caregiver and keep it rugby-related. This includes texting, messaging apps and social media.

Photos and video. Agree clear boundaries with your club and caregivers about taking and sharing photos and videos of tamariki.

Sometimes one-on-one time can’t be avoided, for example if a child gets sick and needs to go home. Keep everyone safe by:

  • Letting the child’s caregiver know what’s happening. If you can’t reach them, tell your team manager.
  • If you must drive a child home on their own, have them sit in the back seat and go straight there.
  • Explaining to the child what you are doing and checking they are okay with it.

Physical contact and correcting technique

Rugby is a physical game, and part of coaching is making sure players are doing things correctly and safely.

  • Keep any physical contact appropriate to the activity, and in the open.
  • It’s okay to correct technique to keep tamariki safe. Explain to the team how you will do it, then ask each player before you do. For example: “Is it okay if I move your hips down, so you don’t hurt your back going into the scrum?”
  • Helping a player up, a high five, or an arm around someone who is hurt is fine where everyone is comfortable. It’s also okay to let tamariki know if you’re not a hugger.

Travelling and overnight stays

  • Assign a lead person to manage the trip. They share information with parents and caregivers and hold all contact details.
  • Where possible, have a mix of male and female adults, especially on overnight trips.
  • Adults must not sleep alone in a room with children other than their own.
  • Follow the NZR Travel Guidelines, available from your Provincial Union or the NZR website.

LOOK OUT FOR SIGNS OF ABUSE

Children can experience many forms of abuse: physical, sexual or emotional abuse, and neglect. We all need to know what to look for.

What you might see: bruising, especially in the shape of objects, or unexplained injuries, burns or cuts where the story doesn’t add up.

What their behaviour might tell you: a child may become withdrawn, anxious, unusually aggressive or self-destructive, show sexual knowledge or play beyond their years, or change their behaviour in ways that worry you.

ACT ON ALL CONCERNS

Behaviour in adults

It’s okay to question behaviour and remind adults of the rules if you see:

  • An adult or older child repeatedly singling out a child for attention, seeking alone time, or being overly familiar with certain children.
  • Gifts or money given for no clear reason.
  • Children’s personal boundaries being ignored, for example making a child sit on their lap.
  • Children being pushed to do things well beyond their skill level.
  • Threatening or degrading words or actions towards a child.
  • Children being given access to alcohol or adult material.
  • Children’s privacy not being respected in toilets, showers or changing rooms.

Act on all concerns. You don’t need proof that harm is happening. Don’t investigate yourself. Report it to your club or Provincial Union Safe Kids Advisor, who will take the right action.

If a child tells you they are being harmed

  • Stay calm and listen.
  • Reassure them. Tell them they did the right thing by telling you.
  • Don’t make promises you can’t keep, like “I’ll make this stop.”
  • Don’t investigate. Only ask “who, where, when” if you need to clarify.
  • Write down exactly what was said, word for word.
  • Pass it to your Safe Kids Advisor.

If a child is in immediate danger, call Police on 111.

You can also call Oranga Tamariki on 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459), 24/7, for advice.

For advice from NZR, email safeguarding@nzrugby.co.nz or use the online concern form on the NZR Safe Clubs Safe Kids page.

GET SUPPORT

Dealing with a possible case of abuse can be hard for the person handling it. Look after yourself too.

  • Talk with your Safe Kids Advisor or Provincial Union about support through the process and a confidential debrief.
  • Free call or text 1737 any time to talk with a trained counsellor.
  • See more support services on NZR’s Find Support page.

Resources