Personal accident insurance
Protection for serious rugby injury
During playing, training, or practising, injuries can happen – and some can be life-changing.
Rugby union players, staff, and officials at affiliated clubs are automatically covered for these types of serious injuries by the RFU’s arranged personal accident insurance.
What is personal accident insurance?
Personal accident insurance arranged by the RFU covers rugby union participants for serious, permanently disabling injuries they receive while taking part in the sport. This can include when travelling to and from the ground or to and from matches, as well as during training and competitive play.
Who’s covered?
Anyone taking part in rugby with an RFU affiliated club, or while at school, college, or university, is covered by this rugby accident insurance.
Non-affiliated teams are also covered, but matches must be properly organised and refereed, and follow RFU Rules and Regulations and the World Rugby Laws of the Game.
What does personal accident insurance cover?
If players, coaches, referees, or officials get a permanent disabling injury or die while taking part in the sport, the policy pays out. Accidents that lead to a traumatic brain injury or catastrophic spinal injury are also covered.
For example, maximum payouts for specific injuries include:
- Death: £50,000 (£20,000 for under-16s)
- Permanent total disability from usual occupation: £50,000
- Permanent total disability from any occupation: £300,000
- Losing (or losing use of) two limbs, eyes, or hearing in both ears: £100,000
- Losing (or losing use of) a limb, eye, or hearing in one ear: £25,000
- Hospitalisation: £25 for each 24 hours in hospital, up to £1,000 maximum (for a disabling injury, the insurer only pays the largest eligible benefit)
A different RFU scheme covers catastrophic traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. This pays out up to £300,000, with extra support from the RFU Injured Players Foundation.
What’s not covered?
This insurance won’t pay out for sickness or injury due to a medical condition. It also doesn’t cover lost income for injury due to the sport. If you’d like to cover these risks, just get in touch.
Policy documents

How to make a claim
Tell us as soon as you’re aware of an incident. You can notify us via the route below or by completing a claims form, which you'll find in the Policy and document hub.
Our expert in-house claims team will be on hand to update and support you every step of the way.