World Rugby to contact RFU over handling of George North head injury
Friday 23 December 2016 20:54, UK
World Rugby has intervened in the George North concussion case, questioning why established protocols were not followed and requesting the reasons behind a review panel's decision not to sanction Northampton.
North was allowed to return to the field of play by Northampton's medical staff, despite appearing to lose consciousness after he landed on his head following an aerial collision with Adam Thompstone during a match against Leicester on December 3.
Northampton said their doctors did not have access to full television footage that suggested North had been knocked out, and were happy for him to continue playing following a Head Injury Assessment.
The Concussion Management Review Group, set up by the RFU, assessed the case and said Northampton would not be punished, despite saying North should not have returned to the field.
After looking at the case, World Rugby said on Friday it was "disappointing that apparent non-compliance with the sport's elite head-injury protocols led to George remaining on the field of play when he should have been immediately and permanently removed".
The governing body raised concerns that there was a "failure in the identification and management of the injury," especially considering North's history of concussions.
The winger suffered three concussions on club and international duty between November 2014 and March 2015, forcing him to spend time away from the game on two separate occasions.
"While recognising that there is always a risk of human error," World Rugby said, "we will seek further information from the RFU regarding the factors behind the apparent non-compliance with World Rugby protocols and the outcomes reached by the independent review group."
Northampton opted against selecting North for Friday's Aviva Premiership clash with Sale at Franklin's Gardens.
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder revealed earlier this week that the 24-year-old British and Irish Lions wing was in contention to start, but had been omitted as crisis club Saints seek the victory that will ease the pressure heading into Christmas.
