Woods: ‘Head bins’ a no brainer

NIALL WOODS of the Irish Rugby Union Players Association has called for players suffering head injuries in rugby games to be sent to ‘brain bins’ for their own protection.

Woods, the outgoing chief executive of IRUPA, cited recent international games in support of his proposal, which is aimed at protecting professional rugby players from concussion and other brain injuries.

“During November I was watching England-South Africa and (England’s) Chris Ashton was clearly out of it,” said Woods. “I found myself shouting at the television — I was worrying I was turning into my Dad already — to get him off. It was clear to the referee and the medics, I thought, that he was out of it, but obviously there was pressure coming from somewhere to see if he could stay on the pitch.