Rugby and concussions: When will the sport come to its senses and tackle this serious problem?

Concussion continues to be a major issue for rugby, and not just at the high-profile professional level. However, as Sam Peters discovers, any effective solution seems to be a long way off

Clermont’s French scrum-half, Morgan Parra, is concussed during the ERC Cup match against Northampton in October 2017 (AFP/Getty)

It is hard to pinpoint precisely when rugby admitted it had a concussion problem. In 2011, 14-year-old Northern Ireland schoolboy Ben Robinson died after being allowed to play on despite demonstrating clear signs he’d suffered a significant brain injury during an Ulster schools game between Carrickfergus Grammar and Dalriada.

“If one single person playing, refereeing or watching that game had been educated about concussion, Ben would still be alive today,” says his father, Peter, who has gone on to campaign tirelessly for improved concussion education across all sports.

Ben’s death, subsequently diagnosed as being caused by “second impact syndrome” when the adolescent brain, swollen following an initial impact, is susceptible to catastrophic damage if subjected to a further blow, did not lead to widespread calls for change to a sport beloved by its participants precisely because it is so physically demanding. Indeed, in rugby circles, Ben’s death hardly registered outside his local area