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Concussion: The silent issue that needs stronger support

No rugby this weekend? What will we do? (AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE)
Roar Guru
13th October, 2014
57

In the aftermath of a class group lawsuit action by families of former American football players, people in rugby began to wonder whether the same threat of head trauma existed.

The difference was highlighted between the use of head protection. The helmet in the NFL was used as an attacking weapon. In short, NFL players put their heads in places they would never contemplate without wearing head protection.

Wearing a helmet in football is the equivalent of children wearing a helmet skiing or snowboarding. They feel indestructible so they put themselves in the line of fire without thinking about the consequences.

However, there is growing evidence that it is not just boxing and American football that have problems with head trauma cases.

A disturbing but necessary insight into how concussion can be treated in rugby was given by Shontayne Hape last week.

Hape revealed that there were cases in his French club, Montpellier, of players being only given a week’s rest to get over a head knock.

Hape was knocked out five times with his French club. He felt pressure to justify his big salary and not let his club down. He only let the club know when he received a relatively light knock to his body and lost consciousness.

After tests at a local hospital, it was discovered his brain had the same recall ability as a person with learning difficulties. Hape speaks of having zero tolerance for loud music and talked about having difficulty spending time with his family and being out in daylight.

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At age 33, he took the decision to retire from the game. He did not want to risk further cases of losing consciousness.

The problem is that effects on the brain take ten years to develop. Even high profile cases involving players like Conrad Smith, Kieran Read and Richie McCaw, who have been treated on the side of caution, will not show any effects until well after their careers have finished.

Indeed, currently the only way to show trauma to the brain as it stands is by autopsy. This is what happened recently in Ireland. Kenny Nuzum, an amateur player for a Dublin club, saw his family give permission to study his brain after his death.

In 2006, he started experiencing memory loss and doctors said he had a rare brain condition. After the autopsy, the coroner declared that Nuzum had died due to repeated head knocks.

It is important not to tar clubs or management of national teams with the same brush. Players have to change the mentality that it is soft not to play on or take the field before you are 100 per cent.

Even then, there are players like Rory Lamont who have been up front about their concussion problems and the Scotland union did not show any support for the player, essentially implying that the player was making too much of the threat of concussion.

What is clear is that the IRB are not doing enough on this issue. Alex Corbisiero, the England prop, revealed that he knew of no professional player who had not received concussion or a sub-concussive blow and claimed that the concussion protocol was risible.

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So far it seems the IRB have declined to comment on the issue or at least treat it seriously. Ignoring the problem is irresponsible and some sort of action is required.

At grassroots level in New Zealand, there does seem to be a sensible policy the IRB could set up. St John ambulance workers are at matches and any case of a concussed player sees them treat the player and it is taken out of the hands of the trainers or the teams.

Similarly, after any concussion case there needs to be an independent review of the player. It should not be left in the hands of team doctors to remove any accusation of partiality, even if they prefer to err on the side of caution.

We should not leave things to chance and let the future decide whether enough action has been taken. There is enough evidence to suggest now not enough is being done.

Rugby is a hard, physical game. We lavish praise on players who play on with a broken arm, a torn scrotum or a suspect foot. That attitude is concerning enough. Players like Stephen Ferris are an example of players who might well have problems later on in life due to the damage their body took and the fact they played on when he should not have.

When it comes to head knocks, however, we have to take a much sterner stance. We want the best players out on the field but not at the risk of their long-term health. We need independent assessment of players with concussion cases and there should be no shame in coming forward and speaking openly about any head knocks or concussion issues.

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