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 during 2016. 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.