Concussion debate rolls on and player sanctioned for pushing referee

Concussion issues coming to a head?

Players such as Rory Lamont, Alex Corbisiero and Lewis Moody have spoken out against the attitude towards and protocols involved surrounding concussion.

Barry O’Driscoll, uncle to Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll and former medical advisor to the International Rugby Board (IRB), spoke about the issue in the newly released documentary- ‘Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis’. O’Driscoll resigned from his post in protest to his nephew being allowed to return to the field of action against France in March of last year. He claimed that had “been allowed in the United States, during an American football match, then the officials involved would have been sacked.” Recent research has revealed that injuries to the head may put a player at risk of succumbing to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in later life. This was formerly known as “punch drunk syndrome”, traditionally linked with boxers.