THE IRB HAS announced that their Pitch-side Suspected Concussion Assessments [PSCA] will be increased to 10 minutes.
That represents a 100% rise on the five minutes that are currently allowed for team doctors to make a judgement on whether a player has sustained concussion.
International rugby’s governing body has also revealed that two specific sections of the PSCA tool have been expanded for the elite game, with the memory test being “strengthened” and the balance examination “altered”.
The IRB Executive Committee felt that those increased demands on medical practitioners called for more time, and have thereby approved a period of 10 minutes. The new trial will kick in from the 1st of June.
Among the latest information distributed by the IRB is a timely reminder that the PSCA tool should not be used when signs of concussion are clear and obvious.
If symptoms are evident the message remains recognise and permanently remove the player – the PSCA tool should not be used,” reads a statement from the rugby organisation.
The recent incident involving Toulouse’s Florian Fritz in the Top 14 knock-out stages brought the issue of concussion sharply back into focus, and served as a reminder that rugby needs to remain vigilant around head injuries.
The IRB and Fédération Française de Rugby [FFR] requested a report into that “apparent failure to apply the IRB head-injury protocols” in the game against Racing Métro, although there has been no indication of any punishment yet.
Doubts over and opposition to the PSCA remain in some quarters, but the IRB says that the research it has commissioned shows there has been a drop in the number of concussed players returning to the field of play.
A study accepted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine claims that before the PSCA, 56% of players assessed and left to play on were later determined to have suffered a concussion.
Under the PSCA protocols, which began in 2012, the IRB says that figure has reduced to 13%.
Presuming Leinster send a B team to SA. Bulls will be hoping they drop points and bulls will go full out for top spot with pretty much all home games now till the end …would like to see a fully loaded Leinster playing the bulls in the final in Pretoria ..that would be awesome to see….
@Stuart: I say they will send a B side with the Northampton game after the SA tour
@Stuart: I reckon Munster are more than a bit offended that the Bulls couldn’t be bothered playing their strongest team in CC quarter final. Hoping for a cracking match.
@sean o’farrell: send a good mix, start most of the first squad in game 1 and the so called B team in game 2 with a strong bench. Loads of game time and fantastic team building trip.
@chris mcdonnell: they may fly the A team back after the Lions game – I think they did that a few season ago – B team should still be stronger than the team we put out last year when we played the Bulls
This season could work for Leinster. Last year; the URC and Champions Cup Semi finals were all in May This year, URC doesn’t finish until June; so they won’t have to decide which semi final to priortise. They can go full strength for both. So if Leinster are going to do the double; this is the year to do it They won’t get as long a season next year, so managing knockouts of two completions with a trip to SA will be more difficult.