Worried Wallaby Barnes calls a time-out over concussion pains

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Less than three weeks after the International Rugby Board introduced new guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of concussion – one of the principal scourges of modern-day union – the brilliant Wallaby midfielder Berrick Barnes has decided to take an indefinite break from the game after suffering a number of "footballers' migraines", as the Australians describe it.

Sydney-based Barnes has not ruled himself out of the forthcoming World Cup in New Zealand, but he has not ruled himself in either.

After failing to make it to half-time while playing a Super 15 game for the Waratahs last weekend, Barnes consulted both his team doctor and a neurologist before opting out of the remainder of the tournament. "I'm not going to the Bahamas," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to learn about the condition and see if I can find out how to stop it affecting me. I haven't put a time limit on this: it's weeks at the moment, but how many weeks it turns out to be, we'll have to wait and see. I'm trusting my gut for once, rather than trying to please others."

Earlier this year, Bath had Barnes in their sights as a replacement for Butch James, who was completing his tour of duty at the Recreation Ground and heading back to South Africa. However, despite the interest also of some wealthy French clubs, the 24-year-old goal-kicker signed a two-year contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union.

There was more bloodletting among chief executives yesterday when Gordon McKie left the Scottish Rugby Union a few days after a vote of confidence in the governing body's management team. Last week the RFU CEO John Steele made an equally abrupt departure from Twickenham.