Concussions and Protecting Our Players

[Strewthcobber]

Missed it recently, but Leigh Halfpenny is still not back in action after the Kerevi incident during the end of year tour.

Likely to be out for up to 4 months with concussion issues.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Ant Fainga'a the latest to retire following a series of head knocks

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/Fainga'a-one-knock-away-vegetable/

 

[Dctarget]

Ant Fainga'a the latest to retire following a series of head knocks

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/Fainga'a-one-knock-away-vegetable/

‘In 2016, my twin brother [fellow former Wallabies hooker Saia] got married, and at the altar I was actually getting held up because of the head knocks.

Poor bastard. Hope he's alright. Always liked him as a bloke and a player, good luck Ant in post rugby life.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

That's some scary shit, alright.

 

[D-Box]

In the Force v Tigers game tonight the neutral doc ran into the field to tell the ref the Tigers #7 needed to come off for a HIA. Player then off with a blue card

 

[Tex]

Ant Fainga'a the latest to retire following a series of head knocks

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/Fainga'a-one-knock-away-vegetable/

He joined the Fox Rugby podcast and it's necessary listening.

It's a frightening insight into the mindset of some players, particularly the Fainga'a boys, who viewed concussions as a weakness.

I think he spent six weeks in a dark room after a really bad incident, before returning to play again.

Now can't jog or workout without debilitating vertigo and migraines...

Scary stuff.

 

[Tex]

Link to the Fainga'a conversation: https://castbox.fm/vb/133699338

 

[dru]

Link to the Fainga'a conversation: https://castbox.fm/vb/133699338

Chilling stuff. All the very best Ant and thanks heaps for what you have given us.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

North Harbour have been running girls non-contact rugby for a while, apparently with some success in terms of increasing player numbers, now they're trialling it for boys & have NZR's backing:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...rugby-for-boys-gets-new-zealand-rugby-backing

They've also done away with junior rep teams which hasn't been universally applauded but there are now other Unions looking at doing the same & I wouldn't be surprised to see them adopt non-contact if the NH experiment keeps more kids in the game and/ or attracts new kids to it.

 

[zer0]

Do they at least teach/practice tackling at training? If so, then yeah, fine. If not, I can quickly see that either descending into a bloodbath in high school once there's full on contact, or, more likely, just see a large (total?) drop off from those non-contact players.

EDIT: Unless the long term goal is to create an entire parallel track of non-contact rugby right through from primary school to post-HS club rugby? That would make much more sense, but still wouldn't really help anyone in the short-to-medium-term entering HS without that alternative track.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Cooper, Genia....no-one actually cares do they

 

[Braveheart81]

Cooper, Genia..no-one actually cares do they

It's difficult because you have to assume they're following the RTPP properly.

Genia is looking at the bare minimum 6 days.

I guess the question is whether they generally are symptom free the day after the game or whether they're lying to game the system. You would hope that players have learned from their peers that it isn't worth stuffing around with.

 

[Derpus]

Cooper, Genia..no-one actually cares do they

Nope.

As long as it's informed consent, why should they?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Nope.

As long as it's informed consent, why should they?

how can you have informed consent following a brain injury?

 

[Derpus]

how can you have informed consent following a brain injury?

yeah it probably should precede it.

 

[liquor box]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...-former-players-with-cte-20190626-p521ng.html

Researchers have uncovered the first evidence of Australian rugby league players with a degenerative brain condition commonly found in retired American NFL athletes, findings that will have massive implications for the NRL.

I am assuming it will only be a matter of time for Australian Rugby.

Sad news

 

[Tex]

Frightening stuff, particularly as the two men were middle-aged professionals at the time their brains were donated.

This article from 2017 has haunted me since I read it. It starts with the suicide note of a young man who suffered CTE from a young age and doesn't get any easier from there.

https://www.gq.com/story/the-concussion-diaries-high-school-football-cte

 

[liquor box]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...brain-disease-found-in-two-former-nrl-players

Former Manly rugby union player Barry Taylor is the only other case of CTE identified in an Australian sportsperson.

 

[liquor box]

Frightening stuff, particularly as the two men were middle-aged professionals at the time their brains were donated.

This article from 2017 has haunted me since I read it. It starts with the suicide note of a young man who suffered CTE from a young age and doesn't get any easier from there.

https://www.gq.com/story/the-concussion-diaries-high-school-football-cte

Thank you for posting that link it was a very good article.

 

[Derpus]

Frightening stuff, particularly as the two men were middle-aged professionals at the time their brains were donated.

This article from 2017 has haunted me since I read it. It starts with the suicide note of a young man who suffered CTE from a young age and doesn't get any easier from there.

https://www.gq.com/story/the-concussion-diaries-high-school-football-cte

That was one hell of a read.