Insurance
Find out more about the different levels of insurance cover
Rugby League Insurance Cover
The RFL has a number of insurance arrangements in place to provide protection for Community Rugby League clubs and participants.
These include Public Liability insurance, including Player-to-Player liability, and Personal Accident insurance. The RFL also provides a separate Death by Natural Causes benefit for eligible participants.
It is important to understand the different types of cover available and the circumstances in which they apply. Although serious and permanently disabling injuries are thankfully rare in Rugby League, the financial consequences can be significant. Players and clubs should therefore consider whether the cover provided is sufficient for their individual circumstances and whether additional insurance is appropriate.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS
The insurance premiums for 2026 will continue to be provided, as a benefit of Our League Active and there is no charge to Community Clubs for the insurance cover.
PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
Public Liability Limit of Indemnity £10,000,000 any one claim.
Products Liability Limit of Indemnity £10,000,000 any one period of insurance
The public liability policy provides protection for:
- Clubs
- Leagues
- Players
- Committee members
- Coaches
- Volunteers (including first aiders)
The Public Liability policy covers any Rugby League activity conducted by the club including sports and social activities directly connected with Rugby League, as well as products supplied by the club. Cover also includes tenants’ liability if you do not own your ground.
Any clubs with separate Public Liability policies that do not undertake any non-Rugby League activities should contact Ian Roberts at Bartlett Insurance Brokers, who can confirm cover to assist in providing evidence that the other policy is not necessary.
PLAYER TO PLAYER COVER
The limit of indemnity is £2,000,000 in the aggregate for all claims under the policy in any one period of insurance. The RFL have once again included Player to Player Liability cover. This covers the liability of one player for injury caused to another player during a match or whilst training.
It also insures the liability of coaches and match officials for player injuries arising during playing/training. The cover responds to the cost of any damages arising from a claim and also the often-substantial costs of a legal defence in the courts.
The “Player to Player” policy would exclude any deliberate acts, such as a punch, as these are not insurable.
PERSONAL ACCIDENT
The Personal Accident policy provides benefits following specified accidental injuries arising from participation in Rugby League.
The policy includes cover for Accidental Death, Permanent Total Disablement and a range of other specified serious injuries and benefits, as set out in the table below.
The Personal Accident policy is not intended to provide comprehensive income protection or compensation for every injury sustained while playing Rugby League.
Players should consider their own personal circumstances and whether they require additional insurance, particularly where an injury could affect their employment or income.
DEATH BY NATURAL CAUSES
The RFL also provides a separate Death by Natural Causes policy for eligible participants.
This provides a benefit where a participant dies from natural causes rather than as a result of an accidental injury covered by the Personal Accident policy.
The current benefit is:
- £10,000 for eligible participants under the age of 18.
- £25,000 for eligible participants aged 18 and over.
Cover under the Death by Natural Causes policy ceases on a participant's 50th birthday.
This age restriction applies specifically to the Death by Natural Causes policy. It does not mean that a participant aged 50 or over is uninsured to participate in Rugby League; the other insurance arrangements should be considered separately in accordance with their relevant policy terms and conditions.
Summary of Personal Accident Benefits
| Benefit | Under 16 | Over 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Accidental Death | £20,000 | £50,000 |
| Permanent total disablement from any gainful occupation for which they are fitted by way of training, education or experience | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| Permanent loss of sight in one eye* | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Loss of use of one or more limbs | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Permanent and total loss of speech | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Permanent and total loss of hearing in both ears | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Permanent and total loss of hearing in one ear | £20,000 | £20,000 |
| Loss of Major Internal Organs | £100,000 | £100,000 |
| Additional benefit in the event of Paraplegia | £75,000 | £75,000 |
| Additional benefit in the event of Quadriplegia | £125,000 | £125,000 |
*The benefit is doubled in the event of loss of sight in both eyes resulting from the same incident
Additional benefits
| Broken Bones – legs, foot, collar, arms, skull, hips, jaw and/or cheek | Up to £500 |
| Childcare expenses £400 per month | (£5,000 max) |
| Coma Benefit | £30 days per day (max 365 days) |
| Commuting expenses | Up to £300 |
| Dental & Optical expenses | £2,000 |
| Damage to Personal Property following assault | Up to £1,000 |
| Disappearance | Up to £50,000 |
| Executor expenses | Up to £500 |
| Facial Disfigurement - 1-5 cm scar | £1,250 |
| Facial Disfigurement - 5-10cm scar | £2,500 |
| Facial Disfigurement +10cm | £5,000 |
| Facial Disfigurement - Maximum per person | £10,000 |
| Funeral expenses | Up to £10,000 |
| Home and Workplace Alteration expenses | Up to £25,000 |
| Hospitalisation | £25 per day up to 30 days |
| Medical Expenses - as an inpatient in a hospital or nursing home, including (but not limited to): ambulance charges, x-rays, scans and surgery. Cannot be claimed in addition to broken bones, dislocation or ligament. | Up to £5000 |
| Outpatient travel expenses | £100 per week up to £1,000 maximum of 26 weeks |
| Physiotherapy | Up to £500 |
| Rehabilitation expenses | Up to £10,000 |
| Relocation Expenses | Up to £25,000 |
| Snapped/Ruptured Achilles Tendon or Cruciate Ligament | £500 |
| Primary Dislocation – kneecap, elbow, shoulder or hip | £500 |
A player can only claim twice for the following benefits in any one year, and can only claim against one section at each time: medical expenses, broken bones, snapped/ruptured achilles tendon or cruciate ligament and primary dislocation.
Reporting Injuries
In the event that the club needs to make a claim then please complete the attached form Injury Report Form
The RFL will then contact the insurers to inform them of the injury and request that a claim form is issued.
All claims are subject to the applicable policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.
