For the first time in history all NRL players will undergo a heart scan before they take the field next year.
Fairfax Media can reveal NRL and under-20s players will undergo electrocardiogram (ECG) screening before the start of next season, in a move funded by the governing body.
Players may also undergo MRI scans of the brain in the pre-season and be re-tested if they suffer a concussion as a way of tracking any damage to the brain.
These developments came after club doctors met the NRL's chief medical officer Paul Bloomfield on Saturday. During the five-hour meeting at the NRL's Moore Park headquarters, a range of topics including concussion and prescription drugs were discussed.
The ECG screenings will cost the NRL about $32,000 and the proposal will go to the Australian Rugby League Commission for final approval shortly.
An NRL spokesman confirmed plans to test the players for the rare disease. "There is a very small percentage of people throughout the community who have an undiagnosed, pre-existing risk of sudden cardiac death," the spokesman said.
"While it is a very rare event, it is tragic for everyone concerned – particularly family and teammates – if someone dies from this condition.
"This screening will help diagnose cardiac conditions which may put players at risk so appropriate treatment can be provided. Often the condition can be successfully treated and the player can return to sport.
Around 80 per cent of cases involve people who had no prior symptoms, so we think it makes sense to take this precautionary step before the 2016 season starts."
Concussion dominated much of the discussion among the club's doctors. Debate surrounded the possibility of tracking the impact of concussions on a player's brain by having multiple MRI brain scans. An NRL spokesman said this was in the "very early proposal stage".
"A provider may be invited to put forward a proposal to undertake a research study of players to monitor any impact of concussions," an NRL spokesman said.
"Players could undergo an MRI scan [during the] pre-season and it would be compared with MRIs later in the season to see if there is any change. This would be a research study but is only in the proposal stage."
There were discussions to extended the minimum rest period a player must have when concussed from five to 10 minutes and push the concussion assessment from 15 to 20 minutes.
However, it was voted overwhelmingly for the current guidelines to be maintained. The NRL are also considering an alternative to the SCAT 3 concussion test by designing a rugby league specific examination.
Doctors will also have the use of the sky camera view for the first time throughout the season during matches.
Bloomfield reminded doctors to be vigilant around prescription medication. This became a hot topic after South Sydney players Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray almost died this month after overdosing on painkillers.
Like doctors have emphasised the correct use of supplements in recent seasons, they have been told to address their playing group about the correct use of prescription drugs.
"Doctors were urged to remind players to ensure the doctors know about any drugs they might be taking after they have had surgery," an NRL spokesman said. "The view is the club doctors should be aware of any drugs their players are prescribed or taking."
