HEAD TRAUMAS: The top sports medical officer says it would limit severe head injuries.

The report comes only a few months after one of the England full-backs (Mike Brown) got knocked unconscious.

He suffered a blow on the head and got stretchered off the pitch during an England Six Nations match.

The scientific findings are particularly topical as the 2015 Rugby World Cup progresses.

Martin Raftery suggested the most likely focus of any rule changes would be the ‘rugby tackle‘. Reported cases of concussions in rugby have doubled in the last five years.

An expert in the United Kingdom stated that statistically one player suffers a brain injury at every Six Nations Tournament.

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English and Scottish Rugby Unions

Both English and Scottish rugby unions said it is important to make the game safer. It is important to increase the awareness about violent concussion.

Reported concussions in English rugby rose a staggering 59% in 2013 to 2014.

The ongoing brain study into how bad rugby is for brain concussions will present its data findings.

They will offer their recommendations to the governing body’s Laws Committee.

There is a suggestion that reforming the way tackles occur in rugby may reduce head knocks. In particular, it would limit repeated bangs to the skull for the most vulnerable players.

Repeated head knocks may link to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE is a type of dementia. Changing the rules could mean players making tackles much lower on the body of their opponent.

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Facts about Concussion

• Only 10% of concussions result in a loss of consciousness.
• Concussion often causes memory loss, dizziness, personality change, and nausea.
• Deteriorating symptoms may also cause post-concussion syndrome.
• Post-concussion syndrome may last for weeks or months.

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