Concussion crisis sparks drive to stop high tackles
THE shocking toll of the English domestic season was revealed yesterday with the Aviva Premiership poised to adopt a ‘ zero tolerance’ approach to high tackles to stem an alarming rise in concussions.
Figures released yesterday showed that concussion was the most commonly reported match injury for the sixth season in succession, making up 22 per cent of all injuries.
Injuries requiring more than a three-month recovery time were also at an all-time high.
There were an average of four injuries per match last season with an average recovery time of 32 days.
In January of last year, World Rugby issued new directives for punishing high tackles in a bid to combat the worrying increase in concussions.
But that directive has not had the desired effect in the Premiership, and rugby chiefs now want even tougher sanctions on high tackles.
‘From the data we’ve got, that sanction hasn’t resulted in our game in a reduction in concussion risk,’ said Dr Simon Kemp, the RFU’s medical services director, yesterday.
‘It might have been different in other unions, but in our game it hasn’t changed anything, and that’s something that we highlight in the action plan because if we are serious about zero tolerance for head injuries, we need to be confident that we can show that that is actually happening.’
The Premiership is regarded as one of the most gruelling and physical leagues in the world but the findings are still a sobering read.
England and Saracens star Billy Vunipola, who has suffered three serious injuries in the past 18 months, has warned of the issue of player burn-out this season.
‘ I didn’t enjoy being on the surgery table twice in one year and that’s supposed to be deemed as normal,’ Vunipola told the BBC last September.
‘So something probably needs to change, or the players will just burn out.’
Reading yesterday’s findings, Vunipola’s fears are well-founded.
Meanwhile, Elliot Daly is likely to return for Wasps before the end of the season and be available for England’s summer tour to South Africa, despite dislocating his finger on Sunday.
Sportsmail understands that the utility back has not broken a finger on his right hand as was first feared and should be available for the three Tests in June.