Dr Barry O’Driscoll, former World Rugby (IRB) medical advisor, has advised Northampton Saints and Wales winger George North to not play rugby again this season.
The 22-year-old was involved in a nasty collision, by accident, with the knee of London Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes, during Saints’ 52-30 victory on the weekend.
For his troubles, Hughes received a straight red card following multiple reviews, as the referee felt it was clumsy and could have been avoided, much to the disapproval of others.
He has since additionally been banned for three weeks by a disciplinary panel of the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
North was left motionless and was subsequently taken from the field on a stretcher. This particular incident is the fourth time in five months the Welsh winger has been concussed. O’Driscoll has specified that North needs to take a prolonged break from the game, while additionally undergoing regular assessments of physiological and cognitive states.
This was backed up through comments made by the World Rugby advisor for concussion, professor Willie Stewart.
“I think he personally needs to say, ‘No, I’m not playing again this season’. If he does play again too soon it could be the end of his World Cup or even his career,” professor Stewart said.
“No-one should be talking about him playing next week. That’s just ridiculous.”
Following the match against Wasps, Northampton released their own statement.
“After the game North was conscious and in the Saints’ changing room with the rest of the team. He has been into the club today [Saturday] for treatment and will continue to be monitored by the Saints’ experienced medical team throughout the weekend.
“As with everyone in the squad, Northampton Saints places the highest importance on player welfare, and as such North will see a specialist early next week for an assessment.”
Rugby is a competitive sport and it’s understood that almost every player doesn’t want to come off the field in a match on the big stage. On the occasion, serious injuries, like the one suffered by North, do not get treated properly.
Just recently on February 6, North suffered two head knocks during a clash against England, but was not examined correctly by team doctors due to a lack of incident vision at the disposal of medical personal.
An estimated nine million viewers tuned into watching this match, so questions can surely be raised as to how team doctors didn’t see the event take place.
If North had suffered bruising to the brain from the event, there is no way a team doctor can determine his injuries without sufficient game replays, and therefore North shouldn’t have been let back onto the field.
The exact opposite happened. The idea of individual players being a ‘hero’ or a ‘legend’ needs to be erased from the minds of fans, management and players. A head injury can cause serious short-term and long-term issues. It could even be fatal.
One of the IRB’s guideline principles for the treatment of concussion is that “Players suspected of having concussion must be removed from play and must not resume play in the match or training”.
This is followed on by a rule stating, “A Player completing each stage successfully (without the reoccurrence of any symptoms) would take approximately (1) one week to proceed through the full GRTP rehabilitation protocol”.
There are too many instances, particularly recently, in both rugby union and rugby league where this hasn’t been the case.
Is a comprehensive review of the concussion laws needed, or will it be enough to prevent serious injuries from occurring in the future?
Benny
Guest
Nine million watched the wales/england game, or at least that is how i read it
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Agree with your first point. . It is covered by existing law. Just another law that referees turn a blind eye to
AndyS
Guest
Talk to the Kiwis...they seem to be the ones making all the noise about law changes recently.
Daniel Bryson
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised he's not dead yet! Double impact syndrome only has to happen twice in the space of minutes, months or days, yet George North has had three in the space of a month and a half, another one could prove fatal.
Owen McCaffrey
Roar Guru
If you want to see the kind of tackles the IRB says are legal but I say must be outlawed from the game search: "Motu Matu'u HUGE hits" Chest shots must be banned because of the very high risk of hitting the head.
Owen McCaffrey
Roar Guru
I agree. Players should be banned from kicking the ball out of players hands in try scoring situations on safety grounds. There is just too much chance of feet and knees getting near heads and faces. In regards to concussion, concussion testing is a start and also stronger penalties for hits on or near the head. Players and teams complain about getting cards for tackles that landed near the shoulders but Rugby laws need to be clear that it's not only where your tackle lands but also where you aim. High chest/shoulder league style tackes that Gerome Kaino loves to do should be yellow carded too. Because they are a very high risk of accidental head injury. You need to create a margin of error. Tackles clearly aimed at the chest should get yellow cards. That would reduce concussions in pro rugby and differentiate it from league. Also any contact with another players head which causes them to be knocked out should be an automatic yellow/red. Due to the fact that it is highly reckless play. The argument that it is a contact sport and cannot be avoided is not true. If you go out with the knowledge that knocking someone out will land you in the bin you will change the way you enter rucks and tackle. It will improve the game. All tackles should be made between the ankles and below the chest and no scragging.
Mike
Guest
Very sorry to hear that. I had hoped to see him at RWC but his health must come first.
PeterK
Roar Guru
no I don't ant law changes, just the laws as they are written to actually be applied
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
9 million viewers tuned in to watch a domestic Wasps vs Saints game... And Aussies are worried about the popularity of rugby and are always suggesting rule changes etc??? LOL Rugby is pumping worldwide guys!!!! :-) It's okay, just roll with it and be happy that you can watch the best global rugby competition week in and week out :-)
pjm
Roar Rookie
It needs to get taken out of the game. Either way it's going to be a try, either the player scores it or it's a penalty try because you went in with your knees. So there is no possible need to even attempt it.
RobC
Roar Guru
Rest North. Concussion is a deadly issue
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
I'm not convinced the Hughes/North collision was an accident. It's very hard to be sure in incidents such as these. I lean towards the conclusion that at the very least Hughes was reckless. It seems very good advice that North not play again this season. Common sense should prevail.
MJB
Guest
Well said. The attitude definitely needs to change. After the Sea Eagles game last week Daly-Cherry Evans complained about being taken off under the concussion rule because he "felt completely fine" and his coach more or less blamed the loss on that decision, accusing the doctors of being afraid of being sued by the NRL. How about because they are genuinely concerned about him? People need to understand that concussion is a serious injury that looks like a minor one, but with potential long term consequences. You can't be flippant about it.