Verification of the effectiveness of the N-Pro head cap – cutting-edge research to reduce brain damage
The first season of a pioneering study to test the effectiveness of rugby headgear in reducing brain injury has been completed in Ireland. On August 31, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) welcomed the research team and representatives from the first season's implementing institutions to the IRFU High Performance Centre to report on the results. Professor Philip J. O'Halloran (Neurosurgery), the principal investigator of the study, presented the latest data from the first season of the IRFU-supported Rugby Headgear Efficacy Study. The study is being conducted under World Rugby's Law 4 Headgear Trial framework.
N-Pro and "Rule 4 Headgear Test"
World Rugby has established the Rule 4 Headgear Trial framework to field test new headgear designs and evaluate their effectiveness in preventing brain injury. N-Pro is the first product approved under this framework and research is ongoing to verify its effectiveness in reducing brain injury biomarkers (indicators of neuronal damage in blood and saliva).
The research was jointly funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Contego Sports, the Irish developer of N-Pro.
Research findings from the first season
Season 1 saw the participation of 189 players across Ireland across 13 teams , 13% of whom were female, all aged 16 or over.
-
Over 16,000 head acceleration data sets were collected while wearing an instrumented mouthguard.
-
More than 9,000 blood samples and 400 saliva samples stored in the biobank
-
Brain injury assessment with advanced MRI scans and neurocognitive tests
-
Quantitative assessment of damage using biomarker analysis (UCH-L1, GFAP, NFL, Tau)
Expansion to Season 2
Building on the findings from Season 1, the research team has begun testing Season 2 and is ramping up data collection.
-
Six new teams were added, increasing the total number of participants to over 300
-
Additional neuroimaging and biomarker measurements will be performed
-
Final study results expected in Q4 2027
Professor O'Halloran said:
"Traditional rugby headgear is intended to prevent head trauma, but is not designed to reduce the risk of brain injury. Empirical studies of new technology like N-Pro are a major step forward towards preventing brain injury, utilising the latest biomarker analysis, neuroimaging and instrumented mouthguards to independently verify its effectiveness."
Support for the IRFU and strengthening safety measures
IRFU Medical Director Dr Rod McLoughlin commented on the importance of the research:
"The Season 1 study was a crucial step in understanding how headgear may contribute to reducing brain injury biomarkers. This initiative demonstrates the IRFU's strong commitment to making rugby a safer sport for all players. Following the success of Season 1, which saw high participation and adherence rates, we look forward to expanding into Season 2."
Summary – N-Pro’s role and future challenges
Unlike traditional headgear, the N-Pro Head Guard incorporates cutting edge design to provide optimal brain impact protection. Clinical studies are currently underway to scientifically evaluate whether N-Pro can reduce the risk of developing brain injuries, and data from Season 1 has shown promising trends.
When the final results are made public in 2027, the effectiveness of N-Pro will become clearer and it has the potential to establish a new standard for brain injury prevention in rugby.
Please keep an eye on N-Pro's research results and future developments as we look towards the future of sports medicine and brain injury prevention.
