Shocking number of school rugby players say they would continue to play with concussion symptoms

School players have more casual view of concussion than club players, study finds

A “somewhat concerning” 35 per cent of school players said they would “would continue to play a sport while also having a headache that resulted from a minor concussion,” a study by UCC’s School of Medicine and Cork University Hospital found. 17 per cent of club players held the same view.

The study surveyed the views and attitudes of over 520 IRFU-registered players, from 17 clubs and five schools.

According to an Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance Report, concussion is the most common injury diagnosed in non-professional men’s and women’s rugby clubs in Ireland.

IRFU protocols currently state that a player should leave the game immediately if they suffer a suspected concussion.

The survey also revealed that 11 per cent of school players felt a concussed player should return to play during a semi-final game. Four per cent of club players held the same view.

Meanwhile, 76 per cent of respondents said they were largely unfamiliar with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a progressive brain disease linked to repeated concussion.

Flashing mouthguards to be introduced for Women’s RWC

Flashing LED mouthguards that light up when a player received a significant blow to the head will be debuted at the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“Match officials and players will be able to see that this player has sustained a big head impact because their mouth guard is flashing red,” Dr Lindsay Starling, a science and medical manager at World Rugby, said. 

“And it will create awareness about head injuries and concussions in the stands and for fans at home, being able to see it on TV.”