Mike Brown progress to be monitored after England full-back is concussed against Italy
Saturday 14 February 2015 18:49, UK
Mike Brown will be monitored under concussion protocols after appearing to be knocked out following a blow to the head during England’s Six Nations win over Italy on Saturday.
Brown received attention for over five minutes after he was struck by Andrea Masi's shoulder early in England's 47-17 victory.
The full-back was put in a neck brace and carried off on a stretcher, but returned to watch from the bench during the second half.
England coach Stuart Lancaster said Brown will undergo a graduated return – but could not confirm whether he had lost consciousness during the incident.
"I've spoken to him in the changing room, he seems fine," Lancaster said. "He was grumpy that he had to miss the game.
"We've got a training week coming up and clearly he'll take no part in that and we'll see how he goes in the lead up to the (Ireland) game (on March 1)."
The treatment of concussion has been in the news over the last week following an investigation into why Wales wing George North was allowed to play on after being knocked out during the match against England in Cardiff last Friday.
The game’s governing body, World Rugby, said North should not have stayed on the pitch after suffering a head injury during the second half of his team's 21-16 Six Nations defeat.
North clashed heads with team mate Richard Hibbard and was unconscious as he fell to the ground but he immediately came round and finished the match.
World Rugby said it accepted the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) explanation that neither the team's medical staff nor the independent doctor saw the incident.
