Time for World Rugby to flex muscles on player welfare fails
This is written by Progressive Rugby
It’s only 10 weeks ago that a Six Nations Review ruled that Wales prop Tomas Francis should have been removed from the pitch permanently after sustaining a brain injury against England.
Instead, Francis, who had struggled to stand (and then staggered to the post protector), had dutifully shuffled off for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) he should never have had. To compound the error, he passed the test and was allowed to return to the field.
We, as Progressive Rugby, immediately highlighted this clear breach of a protocol that states a player must be immediately and permanently removed if they demonstrate any criteria 1 symptoms including being knocked out, being clearly dazed or balance disturbance.
In this situation they do not undertake a HIA because there is no option to continue playing.
Obviously, the review’s result in April was pleasing, although less so was the decision to take absolutely no disciplinary action against the WRU for the failings. Not much of a deterrent that.
And here we are, on the cusp of entering July, days after the glorious announcement of a ‘gold standard’ protocol and within one minute of the summer tours kicking off what to we see?
We see Munster and Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman making a very unconvincing attempt to get to his feet. Remaining down, looking dazed, and then helped from the field.
Open and shut case, he’s off. Horrible luck just a minute into the tour as he looks to make his case for a place in the Test side - but player welfare is the number one priority….
But no, Loughman passes a HIA – which he should never have had – and worse still, a la Francis, returns to the field to lock horns again with the Maori All Blacks front row.
Both are protocol and process failures. Protocol because they failed to remove the player immediately, and process because the HIA, in place to protect the player, has failed to identify brain damage that was clearly there.
These incidents are not only potentially catastrophic for the player but send an appalling message to the wider rugby community and to those considering becoming part of it.
In a week where the governing body blown the player welfare trumpet, you would think the medical team would have been primed and ready to be super-cautious?
So, it does start to make you wonder whether World Rugby are playing a tune that not everybody within its auspices is choosing to listen to?
And if that’s the case, is it not time for the governing body to flex its muscles and show that confirmed failures simply won’t be tolerated any longer?
“Is it not time for the governing body to flex its muscles and show that confirmed failures simply won’t be tolerated any longer?”