Rugby's concussion protocol branded 'a joke'
This article is written by www.walesonline.co.uk
A former medical advisor to World Rugby has branded the head injury assessment protocol "a joke" in a scathing assessment of World Rugby's handling of the sport's battle with concussion.
Last month, ex-Wales captain Ryan Jones became the latest former professional to go public with his diagnosis of early onset dementia at the age of 41. He joins others like ex-England hooker Steve Thompson and Wales back-rower Alix Popham. There is also a lawsuit, triggered by former players, hanging over World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU.
O'Driscoll, a leading expert on concussion, told the Daily Telegraph: “This head injury assessment protocol is a joke. The symptoms of any head injury surfaces in the first 35 hours, and they are doing a test which lasts 10 minutes before putting them back out on the field to suffer more knocks. What I told World Rugby 10 years ago, and they ignored, has now come true. Where have they been over the last 10 years?”
O'Driscoll added: “For World Rugby to say that degenerative brain disease is not yet established as a consequence of repeated head injuries is a travesty. They say it is not established but that’s not the right message I’m afraid. It’s a very irresponsible comment because he’s [World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin] taking responsibility for the strength of knocks which causes brain damage. It’s the non-concussive knocks at every tackle which we know causes massive issues."
“For World Rugby to say that degenerative brain disease is not yet established as a consequence of repeated head injuries is a travesty.”