Players must be protected from themselves

IT WAS always going to be very difficult this year to follow the highs of 2009 and the accompanying silverware that found an Irish home, including a Six Nations Grand Slam, a Heineken Cup for Leinster and a Magners League for Munster.

The game itself has been transformed this year by the new interpretation of law but on the eve of another World Cup year, there are a number of issues and concerns surrounding the game that need to be addressed over the next twelve months.

CONCUSSION ISSUES