George North ‘One Concussion’ Away From Considering Retirement

Former World Rugby medical adviser Dr Barry O’Driscoll reckons George North should consider retirement if he suffers one more concussion.

North was forced to take an extended break from rugby in 2015 after sustaining a series of head injuries. The 23-year-old returned to international action at the Rugby World Cup as Wales reached the quarter-finals.

Head injuries and concussions have become a hot topic in the sport in recent times and Dr O’Driscoll believes North seriously needs to consider his future in the game should he suffer another concussion.

“I’m sure if [North] gets another one he will have to consider whether the worries about what the inference is from these is enough to make him give up the game,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s his living and it’s a very good living and he loves it… and he would I’m sure and his advisers would make him think seriously about it.

“But it’s a balance for each person to make and I don’t think we’re anywhere near the stage of the game of saying, ‘No, that’s it, we can’t pick you anymore’, [because] we don’t know enough yet.

“But any player at all who has had three or four concussions, in my opinion must seriously think about the future.”

Source: The42.ie