Super Rugby concussions rise despite new laws

Reported concussions are rising in Super Rugby but New Zealand Rugby takes a back seat on players’ decisions to play on after being cleared.

A total of 74 New Zealand Super Rugby players were concussed this season, a rise from 59 last year, despite revised World Rugby tackle laws designed to reduce the number of head injuries.

New Zealand Rugby chief medical officer Ian Murphy says concussed players are well informed about their injury by medical staff, but the final decision whether to continue playing once cleared of symptoms is left to them.

While World Rugby concussion tests made during and after a game can keep a player out for a period, some are often choosing to lace up after one, two and sometimes three concussions within a season.

Murphy said NZR advises and educates these players on what best to do, but once cleared they make the decision whether to play on of their own free will.

Murphy said there were ‘‘rare circumstances’’ if a player had not considered their health well enough that NZR would intervene, but admitted he was yet to see an example of a player being forced out of the game this way.

‘‘We provide our part of the parcel and allow the individual to make their own decisions,’’ he said.

‘‘It is made very clear to me from the organisation [NZR] that each player is very entitled to make their own decision around whether they play or they don’t, and dare I say it whether they retire or not - based on what professional information they are given.’’

All Black and Highlanders fullback Ben Smith was removed from the field three times this season with a head-related injury - two concussions and an inner ear problem.

While many people have questions about Smith’s health, Murphy said there was no rule of thumb as to how many concussions a player could endure in one What I think is an acceptable amount of risk can be different to . . . what they think and what a partner or family member may think. season or a lifetime.

‘‘I think the game of rugby is a contact sport, it is a collision sport and we work hard on injury prevention, but it is inevitable that injuries will happen. Among those is concussion.

‘‘We have no evidence to suggest at this time that there is a fixed number of concussions that anyone should have. No number of concussions that you must stay above or below.’’

After Smith sat out rugby for the third time this season, he was given professional advice and left to decide his playing future.

‘‘What we do is we make sure every single time a player has an issue that they are fully recovered before they contemplate returning to play.

‘‘I would like to think our player cohort acknowledge they’re well supported in their decision making, because each individual is different in what they see as a reasonable assessment of risk. Or level of harm.

‘‘We support them in the decision they make because what I think is an acceptable amount of risk can be different to what you think and what they think and what a partner or family member may think.’’

Murphy admitted there had been issues in the past where players hid symptoms of concussion from medical staff so they could get back on the field earlier.

‘‘Evidence suggests things are improving, but I am not sure we are there yet.’’