ON 9 FEBRUARY, Luke Marshall was helped from the pitch during Ireland’s draw with France. He had concussion but was deemed fit to play the following week against Italy.
He clashed heads with his teammate, Paddy Jackson, in Rome and, once again, was helped from the field. Speaking in May to TheScore.ie, Ireland team doctor Eanna Falvey said, “From Luke’s side, it was very worrying. He’s a real good guy, honest and a good player. He recovered well after the France game.
“In the Italy game it was actually his own player, Paddy Jackson’s head he collided with. He came off but had fully recovered that day.”
Three weeks later and the young inside centre was named to start against Saracens in Ulster’s Heineken Cup quarter final loss. He shipped another concussive blow and was helped off by two Ulster medics. Sense eventually prevailed and he was told to take the summer off. He returned to action in September and has featured for province and country since.
Dr Rod McLoughlin, the IRFU’s head of medical services, believes players in a similar situation to Marshall should, in the future, be given access to expert help.
He told TheScore.ie: “There’s nothing set in stone but it is an area that needs much research. For instance, how we manage repeat concussions. Our guidance would be that if someone gets two concussions within a season, they should seek expert advice and should be managed medically.
Certainly, if they get three concussions in a season — and it depends on the severity of any single concussion and how close they are — they probably should get expert neurology advice.”
Brian O’Driscoll admitted, via Twitter, that the Irish team medics were right to withdraw him from the fray against New Zealand after he was concussed in the second-half. INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Dr McLoughlin was speaking at Monday’s IRFU-backed launch of new concussion guidelines for the amateur game. He stated, “We are adopting a zero tolerance approach to concussion or suspected concussion in an attempt to dispel the myth of a ‘knock to the head’ or a ‘minor concussion’.
“If a player is suspected of being concussed they must be removed from training or the field of play, and not return until proper Graduated Return to Play guidelines have been observed.”
If u don’t care don’t vote
God some people are just too cool! If only I had thought of coming up with such a cool opening line! But evidently it’s off to school for me for not being cool enough!
I can’t believe it’s almost 50/50 here. What business do the managers have in dictating who should be commentating on games?
And in even bringing up the issue like this so publicly, they’ve effectively made it so RTE cannot back down on this, where some private words may have had some influence.
The self righteousness of the GAA community can be exasperating sometimes.
Amazing that it is almost 50/50! Considering most of the “commenters” seem to be supporting RTE’s stance.
Any chance of a “I don’t care option on the poll”
Then just don’t bother with it surely.
I didn’t
Who runs RTE, the GAA ?. Stick to the football lads, it’s what you do best, most of the time.
Ya managers should be spending more time worrying about on the field antics rather than off the field. Are these the same guys who complain about players rising up and going on strike and players tweeting? Surely this is the same kind of antics under different circumstances!
Why is an RTE IR issue anything but the business of RTE itself?
The GAA managers can comment on an individual basis if they like, but it’s nothing to do with them.
This meddling, on a wider scale, is the same mindset that led to the church trying to run the country, and the GAA in a former incarnation, trying to do likewise.
If it were a group of, say, politicians refusing to engage with a political commentator, there would be uproar.
Mind you, FF tried that before the last election, but that’s not exactly a surprise.
The GAA managers shpuld mind their own business and do what they are hired to do and getting weel paid for it……sshh dont tell anyone that last bit!! lol
I’m agreeing with the managers but only because I can’t stand canning or morrisey commentating. It’s a very odd situation though.
I’m with RTE for the reverse. :-)
He’s a dreadful commentator who emphasises all of the prepositions in his delivery. *In* Croke Park, *on* the halfway line etc. Couple his high pitched whine with his stock phrases of ‘a man called…’ and ‘none other than…’ and it’s enough to have me chewing the steering wheel!
Heaven forbid you’d want to know the score in a game either. I’ve often writhed through five or ten minutes of his ramblings just to get a score check.
Can’t abide his commentary. It’s an I’ll wind…
I’ve heard he’s being lined up for the Olympic Games as one of the lead commentators next year. Now if thats a snub then I take it any time. These guys should stick to the field and leave external politics out of it.
What did Carthy do to put RTE of side anyway.
Just a shite commentator. Should get ANY matches at any level. Pure drivel.
The managers should mind their own business.
I’m with Gus. His RISING pitch drives me loopy.
I don’t care!
There should be a neither of the above option. Carthy shouldn’t be lead commentator but the managers have a point in being annoyed at the way RTÉ prioritise – or don’t prioritise – GAA games. That’s the fundamental point.
See if I care….
I wonder how would the GAA Managers feel if RTE got onto the President of the GAA and said “We’re not covering any of your matches until so and so is appointed Manager of X county. talk about nonsense.
can’t have the manager’s telling us licence payer’s ,who to employ like the old day’s of the church telling us what to watch, seen that mickey harte is from tyrone does he even have a tv licence for rte.
Should be a Neither option on this Poll. Its Pointless!! RTE is and alway will be a Click anyhow!! Mind you Andy Gray and Richard Keyes are doin nothing at the moment. might spice up the camogie final!!!! Just joking!!!!!