“Probably the most thorny issue is return to play” - Progressive Rugby speak with Rugby World
This article is sourced from Rugby World
Progressive Rugby’s Professor Bill Ribbans has contributed to an in-depth feature in Rugby World on brain injuries.
The feature addressed the latest concerns around brain injury in rugby and included input from Lauren Pulling at the Drake Foundation, Dr Karen Hind at Durham University, England captain Sarah Hunter and former England and current Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster.
Prof Ribbans told Sarah Mockford, the respected magazine’s editor, that: “Probably the most thorny issue is return to play (which currently allows a player to return within a week). “We feel it should be a minimum of two weeks.
“It used to be three weeks but the rule then changed. We know World Rugby is concerned that if it goes out to three or four weeks, players could be hiding injuries, which is a concern.
“While we wait for definitive research, we’ve got to go to at least two weeks; you get players’ compliance and some degree of protection.”
He went on to say he would also like to see an overarching consensus across all sports of how long someone should be stood down for.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s hockey, rugby, cricket or whatever, a head injury is a head injury and there should be mandatory protocols.”
And said another area of concern is schools and grass-roots rugby, pointing out he’s been impressed by the blue card system that operates in some southern hemisphere countries, where referees can remove players they believe have sustained a concussion and then log who has been shown a blue card so schools and clubs are aware and follow the guidance.
“I feel very strongly that schools and junior rugby isn’t receiving the attention it deserves,” he said.
“I’d really like to see more done specifically to coordinate schools and junior sport to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. It’s understanding that youngsters need more time to recover and we need to get that message across.
“One of the problems is kids play multiple sports. If you’re concussed playing rugby you need to rest full-stop, not be playing basketball the next week. We need a system where everybody is aware when a young player is concussed. There needs to be more education all the way round, like tackle technique, teaching players from the age of nine safe tackling.”
And Prof Ribbans addressed how some current pro players are not supportive of the changes that Progressive Rugby are trying to make – fearing it will affect their livelihoods.
“Many current players have said that we’re trying to ruin the game,” Ribbans said.
“At Progressive Rugby we come from disparate groups but are all absolute rugby nuts.
“We love the game and want to preserve the game for future generations; we don’t want parents and schools to stop playing and for rugby to end up in the law courts.
“We’re a group of individuals brought together from different backgrounds who are dedicated to preserving the game of rugby by optimising player welfare, particularly in the realm of brain injuries.
“We accept you can’t stop all brain injuries but what we want to do is identify areas of the game, playing or training, where risk is increased and how we can mitigate those risks.”
Progressive Rugby was formed in February 2021 and comprises players, coaches, referees, teachers, GPs, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and sports doctors. The lobby group has been calling for reform in rugby to make it safer, with focus on five key areas: reducing injury risk, prophylactic player welfare, concussion management, post-retirement welfare and access for all.