New concussion tool in use

Rugby league: Salford Red Devils players will wear mouthguards containing microchips that monitor the impact of collisions in the new Super League season to aid research into concussion.

The system, designed by Welsh company Sports & Wellbeing Analytics, will send data to pitchside coaching and medical staff in realtime.

Concussions and their longterm effects have been in the spotlight since former players filed a lawsuit against governing bodies World Rugby, England's Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union which alleged a failure to protect them from the risks.

‘‘The effects on players from rugby collisions alone is an area of research that is gathering pace ... and for Salford to be at the forefront of this research is an extremely important addition to our own research and development programmes,’’ Salford’s director of rugby and operations Ian Blease said.