IRB moves to strengthen concussion tests

Pitch-side concussion tests are to be extended to 10 minutes, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced yesterday.

The decision represents a 100% rise on the five minutes that are currently allowed for team doctors to make a judgement on whether a player has sustained a concussion.

International rugby’s governing body has also revealed that two specific sections of the Pitch-side Suspected Concussion Assessments (PSCA) tool have been expanded for the elite game, with the memory test being “strengthened” and the balance examination “altered”.

The new trial will kick in from June 1.

IRB chief executive Brett Gosper said: “Concussion management and education sits at the very top of the IRB’s player welfare strategies aimed at informing, supporting and protecting players at all levels of the game.

“The IRB centres its player welfare policies on evidence-based research and we are delighted that the data from this trial indicates we are making strong progress while informing the areas where we can continue to learn, improve and ultimately drive forward player welfare best-practice.

“Concussion is a serious public health issue that affects many sports. The PSCA has proven a successful part of our long-term commitment to educating and protecting players at all levels and driving cultural change.

“As a process for the elite game, the pitch-side assessment covers less than 0.5% of the 6.6 million men, women and children playing rugby worldwide and our key message to the community game remains ‘recognise and remove’.”

England star Mike Brown welcomed the news.

He said: “I applaud the significant steps that rugby is taking in the area of head injury management. It is reassuring that the IRB is using research to drive forward policies and resources that protect and educate players at every level.”