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A doctor for Proctor's knock? No, just play on

Roar Guru
29th May, 2015
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Hurricanes's Matt Proctor s. (AAP/NZN Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Roar Guru
29th May, 2015
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1051 Reads

I have been led to believe that rugby is taking concussion seriously and that player welfare is paramount.

Concussion protocols are being strictly adhered to and it seems, for the most part, any doubt and players are sidelined, no matter what.

It’s a good thing.

We have seen many a stoppage and TMO intervention around foul and dangerous play. There have been a number of yellow and red cards dished out and suspensions awarded.

The merits of decisions regarding dangerous play have been dissected and debated often, some saying fair enough, some saying it’s all a bit soft.

Sam Whitelock’s ‘ragdolling’ last week received plenty of airtime. On Friday night, in the Crusaders’ bonus-point win over the Hurricanes, we saw another example of the crackdown by officials, binning Robbie Freuan for 10 minutes, for what was a reasonable tackle in which Nehe Milner-Skudder fell awkwardly.

It is obvious that there is a united effort to see the game cleaned up and what is considered dangerous and foul play, even remotely, will be suitably punished.

Ok then, understood.

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So why the bloody hell was play allowed to continue when Matt Proctor was knocked out cold in last night’s match?

Proctor attempted a tackle on Crusader fullback Tom Taylor and his head connected with Taylor’s hip, rendering him unconscious. He was in Disneyland.

Yet play continued for over three minutes, moving from one end to another, including a stoppage. It only ended after Nemani Nadolo’s try from Ma’a Nonu’s brain explosion.

Proctor needed to be stretchered off and had numerous medical staff attend to him in this period. It was obviously very serious, yet we play on?

I was gobsmacked. Play gets halted for tying a shoelace, cramp, substitutions, replacing a ripped jersey, yet when a player is in obvious distress, we play on?

It bothers me no end that the officials are unable to establish a serious incident and act quickly. It’s one thing to miss a knock on, another a knock-out – and not when the game is supposed to be taking firm action to make it safer and more appealing.

My 12-year-old son turned to me and asked, “Why aren’t they helping him Dad?” I had no answer.

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‘Think of the children,’ I hear you mutter, but what is more damaging, watching a dangerous tackle or seeing a player lying prone and receiving no attention?

It was a disgrace, and hopefully we will not see a repeat in the future.

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