O’Driscoll calls for change in attitudes to head injuries

Former IRB medical advisor Dr Barry O’Driscoll has claimed schoolboys risk neurological and psychological damage by the lack of action around the increasing number of head injuries in rugby.

O’Driscoll, a former Irish international and uncle of Brian, resigned from both the IRB and IRFU last year over their treatment of concussion and the introduction of the ‘five-minute rule’ which allows players suffering head injuries to return to play if they pass a brief sideline assessment.

While schools levels observe a rule whereby players suffering concussion are not allowed to play for three weeks, O’Driscoll believes the refusal to take head injuries seriously at professional level has a trickle-down effect.