World Rugby Has Their Say On George North Incident & It Doesn’t Bode Well For Northampton

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Northampton have escaped punishment from World Rugby for the George North incident but their reputation has once again been dented.

The Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) tasked with the review earlier this month also didn’t punish the Premiership side but stated that the Welsh winger shouldn’t have returned to the field.

World Rugby then decided to conduct their own review, and while once again Northampton have escaped punishment, rugby’s governing body has expressed it’s disappointment over the incident.

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World Rugby released a review of the incident on Monday and said there was a failure in this case to identify and manage the injury appropriately.

“Despite the failing by the club to correctly apply World Rugby’s head-injury management protocols, World Rugby has recognised that the RFU and PRL acted swiftly and appropriately to implement measures with Northampton Saints and other clubs to reduce the probability of future non-compliance,” the statement read.

Specifically, World Rugby found:  

  • The robust head injury protocols defined within the Tournament Player Welfare Standards were not fully adhered to at the match in question. Prioritisation by the medical staff given to evaluating a potential spinal injury to North, was advanced as the principal reason for the non-compliance of head injury protocols.
  • The non-application of the protocols resulted in North not being immediately and permanently removed from the field of play as he should have been, without requiring a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).

Actions underpinning the ongoing education programme run by the RFU, PRL and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA): 

  • Following the incident, the RFU and PRL have communicated with all stakeholders to remind them of their obligations to ensure that immediate and permanent removal is observed in all such cases.
  • As part of the review, World Rugby is satisfied that Northampton Saints’ medical staff were educated on the permanent removal process.
  • RFU and PRL to continue to run robust education programmes across the Premiership clubs this season. These educational interventions are in addition to World Rugby’s global education programme.

“World Rugby recognises the actions taken by the RFU and PRL as appropriate in order to re-emphasise the protocols and are encouraged by the renewed efforts,” the statement continued.

“Firstly, in the setting up of the Independent Untoward Incident Review Committee and, secondly, in the subsequent action taken since the publication of the independent review committee’s findings to mitigate the risk of a repeat failing. 
 
“While it is impossible to completely remove the risk of error, World Rugby remains disappointed that there was a failure in this case to identify and manage the injury appropriately, in particular considering North’s medical history.”

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With this in mind and to ensure that best practice is implemented in all elite competitions, World Rugby has instructed all unions and elite competition owners to ensure the following:

  • Complete compliance with the mandatory six-point head injury education, prevention, and management programme as outlined within the conditions of use of the HIA tool.
  • Any clear or suspected symptom of concussion results in immediate and permanent removal of the player from the match or training session. The HIA is not applicable where a symptom of suspected concussion is observed – Recognise and Remove.
  • Individual risk stratification of players as outlined in the conditions of HIA adoption is a priority and all management should undertake concussion education as outlined on World Rugby’s player welfare website.
  • They are aware of their obligation under the conditions of HIA adoption that untoward incident reviews should operate where there are cases of apparent non-compliance with rugby’s head injury protocols.
  • They prioritise Recognise and Remove education via social and digital platforms to educate the entire rugby community in the importance of recognising symptoms and immediately permanently removing any players with clear or suspected symptoms from playing or training.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said:

“While we acknowledge that errors in the correct application of the process may happen from time to time, we must continue to strive to make our game as safe as possible for players at all levels of the game. The head injury management process, including the HIA, is successfully protecting players and what this case shows is that all stakeholders must redouble their efforts to ensure they are implemented fully and correctly.”

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