FAQs
The product has been designed to reduce the risk of injury in rugby players by efficiently managing head impact energy.
Utilising our cutting edge defentex™ impact management technology, N-Pro is designed to reduce the G-Force energy transferred to a player’s head during impact. Our N-Pro head guard manages G-Force impact energy through its multi-layer construction, providing the player with an extra level of protection from injury.
The Rugby Football Union Injury audit for the 2020/21 season showed that for the 10th consecutive season, concussion was the most common reported match injury, accounting for 28% of all match injuries, with an average time loss of 22 days.
The most common injury in the tackle to both the ball carrier and tackler was concussion, making up 48% of all injuries to the tackler and 32% to the ball carrier.
Concussion is a subset of TBI and is often referred to as a “mild” traumatic brain injury (mTBI). N-Pro has been designed to help reduce the incidence and severity of injuries, by actively managing head impacts.
No product can claim to protect you from injury 100%. We have tested this product extensively, both in the laboratory and in match scenarios, to ensure that N-Pro can reduce your risk of sustaining a injury. To date, we have achieved unprecedented scientific results to demonstrate the product's safety and effectiveness.
Answered simply – the areas of the head it covers. The occipital, parietal, temporal, frontal, mastoid and sphenoid regions of the skull. It does not protect the neck, face or jaw regions.
N-Pro has been designed to be used by players at all levels. Children and adults, professionals and amateurs, males and females, backs & forwards, in Rugby Union or Rugby League.
Brain injuries are extremely serious and need to be managed correctly by medical professionals. We strongly advise that any player feeling unwell during or after a game should seek medical assistance immediately.
N-Pro has been designed, developed and tested to the highest standards. This means that our product is extensively tested, and our results have been independently examined by relevant experts to ensure that the product is safe and meets internationally recognised requirements.
To date, N-Pro has undergone comprehensive bench testing to validate its safety and ensure that it meets internationally recognised safety requirements. In addition, our product has been used in a randomised, controlled pre-clinical study, which examined both neuro cognitive behaviour and neurological blood biomarkers. This pre-clinical study demonstrated a significant reduction in TBI indicators.
A pilot player study was completed with rugby players in the Ulster Academy. The results were very positive from a product safety and usability perspective. Players fed back that the product did not affect their peripheral vision and that it felt more comfortable and premium than standard head guards. Player’s brain activity (EEG) and bloods were also analysed to confirm if the N-Pro could provide protective effects at a clinical level. The study was designed to validate the N-Pro’s safety and usability and was independently conducted by Ulster University. The results were analysed by an independent biostatistician. Preliminary results indicated that the N-Pro can confer protective effects to the user, in individual player case studies. Contego will continue to monitor product safety as per their post-market surveillance responsibilities, and will run further studies with players in real world playing conditions to further validate product effectiveness.
The CE mark indicates that a product is compliant with the relevant EU legislation. The UKCA mark indicates that a product is compliant with the relevant UK legislation.
CE marking is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1985. CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the requirements of the applicable EC directives. It is illegal to place any protective headgear on sale in the EEA without the relevant certification.
N-Pro has received Category II PPE certification from a European Notified Body and is legally approved to use the CE and UKCA mark.
N-Pro may look like other rugby headgear, but it performs very differently. Most rugby headgear on the market is certified under World Rugby Regulation 12 — the long-standing standard for scrum caps. Regulation 12 headgear is designed to do one job well: protect against cuts, abrasions, and cauliflower ears. World Rugby is clear and upfront about this — this type of headgear isn't intended to reduce the risk of concussion or brain injury, because that was never its purpose.
N-Pro was built for a different purpose entirely: reducing the force that reaches a player's head during impact. To do that, N-Pro went through a separate, newer World Rugby process — the Law 4 Global Law Trial — which exists specifically for headgear designed to manage impact energy as a form of player protection, rather than just surface protection. N-Pro was the first headguard to enter this trial, and its impact-reduction claims have been independently tested and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals — not just asserted by us.
In short:
| Standard scrum caps (Regulation 12) |
N-Pro (Law 4 Trial) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Protects the skin | Designed and independently tested to reduce the force transferred to the head on impact |
| What it addresses | Cuts, abrasions, cauliflower ear | Linear and rotational impact forces linked to head injury risk |
| Evidence | Not required to demonstrate impact reduction | Independently tested; findings published in peer-reviewed journals |
Both types of headgear are legal and legitimate under World Rugby's rules — they're simply built to do different things. If your priority is reducing cuts and cauliflower ear, a standard scrum cap does that job. If your priority is reducing the impact forces linked to head injury risk, N-Pro is the product independently tested and validated for that purpose.
N-Pro should be replaced 30 months after the purchase date. But just like any piece of safety equipment, it should be inspected before use; if you notice any problem with the product it should not be worn, and should be replaced immediately.
Yes, it can be worn by all ages. The developing brains in children and adolescents are more susceptible to mild traumatic brain injury than adult brain. Therefore, it is essential that any product worn by children can manage the energy from head impacts effectively.
| MC | LC | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium - Junior | Large - Junior | Small - Senior | Medium - Senior | Large - Senior |
| 51cm | 53cm | 55cm | 57cm | 59cm |
Individuals with pre-existing neurological conditions (e.g epilepsy, pre-existing brain trauma or history of concussions) should consult with a doctor before using N-Pro.
If a concussion or brain injury is suspected, you should seek immediate medical attention.
The product is manufactured in the UK.
At present, N-Pro is available in Black with 6 trim colour options. Green, Blue, White, Red, Yellow or Pink. However, we intend launching new trim colour options during 2025.
- Cold hand wash only
- A soft cloth may be used, do not use wire or hard brushes which may damage the product
- Do not machine wash
- Do not bleach
- Do not tumble dry
- Do not iron
- Do not use soap, detergent or solvents. Use water only.
N-Pro is available in 5 sizes: MC - Medium Junior, LC - Large Junior, S - Small Senior, M - Medium Senior, L - Large Senior
Place a measuring tape around the head at eyebrow level, and measure the circumference of the head. Choose which size is suitable for you from the table below. If your head circumference is between sizes, select the larger size
| MC | LC | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium - Junior | Large - Junior | Small - Senior | Medium - Senior | Large - Senior |
| 51cm | 53cm | 55cm | 57cm | 59cm |
