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Supporting player medical across a seven-match international rugby series
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry brought together some of the biggest names in international rugby, including the Springboks and All Blacks, for a seven-match series across South Africa. Behind the excitement on the field was a comprehensive player medical operation designed to provide consistent, high-quality clinical care throughout the tour.
Mediclinic Event Medical Services and ER24 were the designated medical service providers for player medical across the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, working closely with SA Rugby to plan and deliver the medical services required for the participating teams. In addition, Mediclinic Event Medical Services and ER24 provided spectator medical services at two of the stadium venues during the series.
The scale and complexity of the series required more than simply deploying medical personnel. It required a coordinated national approach to player medical, supported by strong regional teams and underpinned by clear clinical governance, risk management and operational planning.
At national level, Dr Darren Green served as Tournament Chief Medical Officer, working closely with Clint Readhead, GM Medical from SA Rugby, Tristan Manning from Mediclinic as Event Risk and Disaster Manager, and Andre Bronkhorst from ER24 as National Events Manager.
This leadership structure provided strategic oversight across the series, with a focus on clinical governance, risk identification and mitigation, communication, operational planning and maintaining consistency across the different venues.
Importantly, the national framework was supported by experienced regional event teams, coordinated through ER24’s regional event coordinators. In the Western Cape, Werner Eksteen provided regional coordination, while Clinton Sheriff supported KwaZulu-Natal, Robert Fink coordinated the Pretoria and Northern Gauteng region, and Decker Coetzee coordinated the Metropolitan Gauteng region. Together, these regional leaders translated the national medical strategy into effective local delivery, working alongside doctors, nurses, paramedics and venue-based operational teams at each fixture.
This connection between national leadership and regional execution was central to the medical model.
Each venue presented its own environment, logistical considerations and risk profile. The medical operation therefore needed to be consistent without becoming rigid, allowing teams to adapt to local circumstances while maintaining the same overarching standards of care.
Planning began well before match day, with venue risk assessments, medical resource planning, communication structures and emergency response pathways established in advance.
On match day, these plans came together through coordinated deployment of medical personnel and resources, with teams prepared to support the participating players and respond when required.
For major sporting events, much of this work happens away from the spotlight. Yet effective player medical services are an essential component of supporting elite athletes and creating a safe environment around high-profile international competition.
The series demonstrated the importance of collaboration between clinical and operational teams, and between national and regional structures. It also highlighted the value of having experienced people who understand not only emergency medicine, but the unique demands of delivering healthcare in elite sporting environments.
At the heart of the operation were the people delivering care on the ground.
Mediclinic Event Medical Services and ER24 would like to acknowledge and thank all the doctors, nurses, paramedics, regional event coordinators and operational teams who contributed to the series.
Their professionalism, preparation, communication and commitment to clinical excellence were fundamental to delivering a consistent standard of player medical care throughout the tour.
While the focus of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry was on the Springboks, All Blacks and other teams taking the field, a dedicated medical team worked alongside the players throughout the series, prepared to respond when needed.
The tour provided a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when national medical leadership, regional expertise and operational excellence are brought together around one common objective: ensuring that the right people, resources and clinical expertise are available when they matter most.
For Mediclinic Event Medical Services and ER24, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry was not simply seven matches.
It was an opportunity to demonstrate what high-quality, coordinated player medical care can look like at a national level.