Across a two-year period covering 2024 and 2025 EOSE has been delighted to work with World Rugby to support the education and development of coaches, match officials, and those who deliver pitch side medical care to players.
This consultancy project, carried out directly for leading international sport federation World Rugby, involved mapping the equivalence of education courses from around the world across the three selected domains.
Coaching
EOSE acted as a technical expert partner to implement a collaborative system for professional recognition which establishes transparency and trust between member Rugby Unions (federations) and examines the coach education systems which they operate. The coaching phase of the project resulted in a Rugby Coaching Qualifications Global Mapping and Equivalency Report that highlights the equivalence of national rugby coaching certifications which were mapped against the World Rugby coach education awards and levels. EOSE contacted rugby federations in 23 countries to explore and analyse their coach education system and the certifications they offer.Match Officiating
EOSE was asked to undertake the same exercise for Match Officials to explore and analyse referee education and development globally. This comparative study, entitled Rugby Match Officials Education and Development Global Mapping Project, was a groundbreaking piece of work as there had never been any previous attempt to map match officiating education across rugby federations worldwide. The resulting report analyses Match Officials’ education and development pathways in countries where the World Rugby Match Officiating education programme is delivered, and in those countries where the Union has their own qualifications and pathway. In total match officials’ education was studied by EOSE across 21 nations via contact with the national federation.Medical Education
The final phase of the project implemented a comparative study mapping medical education courses from various providers against World Rugby’s suite of pitch side medical care education courses – including first aid courses and specialist courses aimed at medical professionals working in rugby. The first activity of the project was to implement an online survey of member Unions, aimed at union personnel with responsibility for Medical Education. World Rugby and EOSE then identified the providers and courses to be included in the mapping and equivalency project. Course materials and key information about each course were collected and mapped for equivalence against World Rugby’s suite of courses. A final report entitled Mapping and Equivalence of Pitch-Side Medical Care Education Courses was produced.Enhanced collaboration and mobility
The results of the project can be used as the basis for discussion and agreement between nations about the equivalence and acceptance of qualifications gained within other member Unions. The reports support the mobility of coaches, referees and medical personnel, and provide a reference point for continued development across these three roles. Increasing collaboration between nations and facilitating mobility have been key outcomes of the project. World Rugby is now better able to understand education in rugby around the world and support the development of the rugby workforce.
