Concussion sees Curry return home from tour
England’s hopes of levelling their series against Australia have suffered a blow after Tom Curry was ruled out of the last two Tests because of concussion.
Curry is to return home withtheheadinjurysustained inthefirsthalfofSaturday’s3028 defeat in Perth and will face ‘continuing assessment and ongoing management’.
The Sale flanker was stood downafteranHIAandtheRugby Football Union says that the decisiontowithdrawhimfrom the tour is in the ‘interest of player welfare and recovery’.
Curry’sheadwhippedbackwardswhiletacklingWallabies centreSamuKereviinthe14th minute and despite the heavy blow, he completed the half.
It was when the 2019 world playeroftheyearnomineepresentedwithconcussionsymptomsattheintervalthathewas sent for an HIA and failed to appear for the second half. No decision has yet been made on whether he will be replaced in the 36-man touring party.
Undernewguidelines,players with a history of concussion or who are removed from a match with obvious concussion symptoms face a minimum mandatory stand down period of 12 days.
Curry fits the second of these criteria meaning he would have missed at least the secondTest,whichtakesplace in Brisbane on Saturday.
He was withdrawn from half-time of the 23-19 victory overWalesonFebruary26due to concussion but was cleared to face Ireland a fortnight later before being ruled out against Francebecauseofahamstring issue. Lewis Ludlam made an impactasCurry’sreplacement at Optus Stadium and is the leading contender to replace him, while Sam Underhill and Jack Willis are also options at openside.