Players have always used some form of head protection over the years, from full-backs to loosehead props. Rugby union is a full-on contact sport, so expect a few bumps and bruises along the way. But since the game turned professional in 1995, there are now strict laws about the using protective equipment on the pitch. Ever since October 2000, The International Rugby Board (IRB), the game's governing body, must approve any form of head protection. Helmets are usually made from light plastic materials capable of taking serious impact.