GEORGE NORTH WILL miss Northampton’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Clermont on Saturday due to his recent concussion problems.
It comes as a huge blow to the Saints as they prepare to face the Top 14 club at their Stade Marcel-Michelin stronghold, particularly as North is the tournament’s top try scorer with seven in just five pool games.
The 22-year-old was knocked unconscious in Northampton’s 52-30 win over Wasps last Friday, when Nathan Hughes’ leg made contact with North’s head.
Northampton reported that their physically-imposing wing “was conscious” after that game, before underlining that North would be “monitored by the Saints’ experienced medical team” thereafter.
Hughes was subsequently banned by the RFU for three weeks for “striking with the knee and/or shin,” although the disciplinary panel deemed that the offence was not intentional.
Welshman North also suffered a head injury while on international duty during the Six Nations, appearing to briefly lose consciousness against England before playing on for some time.
Earlier in the same game, North had taken a boot to the head.
The recurrence of concussion has led to figures such as former World Rugby medical advisor Barry O’Driscoll suggesting that North should sit out the remainder of the current season in order to recuperate.
Northampton head coach Jim Mallinder has now confirmed that North will not be involved in this weekend’s vital knock-out meeting with Clermont.
He needs to be out for 12 weeks but that wont happen because Northampton will come first.
Right call. Player welfare comes first
The guy was knocked unconscious and they said his situation would be monitored before a decision regarding his participation on Sat. Ffs, the guy gets knocked out 8 days before a game and isn’t automatically ruled out. When is player welfare going to come first in rugby???
Too right.