Doctor sends North warning over issue of concussion in rugby
GEORGE North has been warned that concussion in rugby is an issue that must continue to be highlighted in the public domain in the wake of his dismissive remarks to the media earlier this week.
The Wales and Northampton wing told reporters who asked about his well-being after the Saints’ 28-21 European Champions Cup victory Castres: “Well, you boys have to get paid somehow don’t you? So you boys can make stories up. I’m all right.”
His comments have come in for criticism on social media, and former World Rugby medical advisor Dr Barry O’Driscoll believes that while North is entitled to react to the press in any way he wants, he must ensure he is fully aware of the long-term consequences of multiple concussions.
O’Driscoll, who resigned as a medical advisor to the sport’s governing body in 2013 citing the trivialisation of concussion, insists that North is free to decide how he goes on with his career – providing he has been informed of the risks.
“I believe it is up to George to decide,” said O’Driscoll, the uncle of Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll.
“Having been told ‘you’re getting these frequently,’ there are indications that this could lead to longterm problems.
“It’s his career, he’s making a lot of money, he’s got to decide.
“But it’s got to be spelt out to him – and all the media are doing are spelling it out. Neither is completely wrong.
“If George wants to say two fingers to all you guys in the media, that’s fine. But it’s up to the doctors, the media and everyone to offer an objective assessment.”
North, 24, has held up Wales team mate Gethin Jenkins as a player who inspires him to continue given his longevity and the amount of injuries he has overcome.
However, Jenkins has proved not as susceptible to head injuries as North and O’Driscoll says this makes the winger’s situation trickier.
“George is in a difficult position,” said O’Driscoll. “He has shown a tendency to easily suffer in a way and certain knocks have caused him to lose consciousness.
“But George feels fine in between and he is doing everything in between. As long as there’s someone willing to take him on and insure him, it’s up to him (whether he carries on).”
North has a worrying history of concussions, suffering four head injuries in five months between November 2014 and March 2015.
The latest incident saw him appear to be knocked unconscious after landing heavily in a clash with Leicester Tigers’ wing Adam Thompstone last month.
It resulted in Northampton being investigated, with World Rugby concluding that North should never have returned to the field of play that night.
O’Driscoll, who has previously stated that North would have to consider retirement were he an amateur, is adamant that the responsibility lies with the governing body and the way they enforce Head Injury Assessments (HIAs)
He added: “North has now lost consciousness twice – once for Wales and once for Northampton – gone off, passed a test having been unconscious and then returned to play.
“Now only 10% of concussions involve actually losing consciousness, but if you do lose consciousness then you definitely are concussed.
“We’re not talking about a ligament or a hip or a dislocated joint, we’re talking about a young person’s brain.
“And with the research we have, we know a small percentage will now get early dementia, Parkinson’s or a neuro-degenerative disease. It’s a very small percentage, but we don’t know who they are. So we have to have zero tolerance.”