IRB tackle rugby’s concussion issue

 
Julian Bennetts10 February 2014

Rugby chiefs have appointed a panel of experts to investigate players’ concussion and devise a plan of how the game should deal with it.

The sport has been accused of having a lax attitude to head injuries but last November the International Rugby Board admitted there is a link between repeated concussions and a disease associated with the early onset of dementia.

Now they have set up an advisory group featuring experts from across the world and this is seen as a huge step forward in the process of addressing the issue.

The panel of Professor Caroline Finch (injury prevention researcher, Ballarat University), Professor Bob Cantu (neurosurgeon, Boston University), Dr Willie Stewart (clinical neuroscientist, Glasgow University) and Dr Jon Patricios (sports physician, South Africa) could share their findings with other sporting bodies.

Football has also been criticised for its attitude to concussion, particularly after Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris appeared to be knocked unconscious when he collided with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku in November. The Frenchman continued playing but missed the next two matches as then-manager Andre Villas-Boas launched a vigorous defence of Spurs’ medical staff.

In rugby, Australia flanker George Smith was allowed to play on after appearing to lose consciousness following a clash of heads in last summer’s Third Test against the Lions.

Last week Gloucester forward Andy Hazell was forced to retire after numerous concussions while Connacht skipper Craig Clarke has been stood down indefinitely after 10 concussions in 22 months.

Rugby has already introduced a number of measures with all professional players and coaches in England to undergo an online training course before next season.

Dr Martin Raftery, the IRB’s chief medical officer, says the advisory group will help them — and potentially other sports — implement more changes.

“Concussion is a major problem for every sport, and we are seeing how we can set guidelines to help ourselves and the unions so we can establish a policy,” he said. “We have already made significant steps forward on this. In December 2011 we found that 56 per cent of players were being left on the field of play after suffering a concussive injury. We are the only sport to have implemented research and processes since then, such as the Pitch-Side Concussion Assessment, and it is now down to 13 per cent.”

Raftery wants to share the research with other sports, including football. He added: “We have been approached [by other sports] about educational material and using some of our information. We are happy to share it.”

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