Hape - Tackling concussions in Rugby

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  • Head shot: Former New Zealand and England rugby dual-code international Shontayne Hape suffered over 30 concussions in his career.

    Last week Wales winger George North’s sickening blow to the head that left him out cold momentarily has led to the issue of player welfare rearing its head again, and whether the people we pay to entertain us have adequate protection from their clubs and federations or not.

    – World Rugby insist North should have left pitch after concussion
    – Inside story: Rugby waking up to the serious issue of concussion

    Wales coach Warren Gatland was quick to shelter his medical team from the incident claiming that not one member of the Wales squad, be them coach, player or member of staff on the ground was aware of what happened and that he passed ‘all standard protocols’ before eventually being hauled off a short while later.

    Whilst it is understandable that a medic on the ground would have missed a clash during an intense Six Nations Test match, that Gatland and his team missed the incident is not acceptable and rather unlikely. There are more TV screens and sports-analysis computers in the coaches’ box these days than actual people and the incident was repeatedly shown on big screens around the stadium.

    I would move to suggest therefore that Gatland was adhering to the amateur, Neanderthal rugby mantra of, ‘If you can stand, you can play.’

    Head injuries have been a topic of serious debate in rugby union for several years now, as ex-players are increasingly suffering in their retirement from dementia and other brain-related issues.

    Following the tragic accident of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes recently, who died when struck on the neck with a ball, cricket’s problem is a fairly straight-forward case of improving the standard of equipment available to players. Rugby has the challenge of changing the sport’s ingrained mentality of toughness and not showing any weakness.

    Rugby players regularly hide injuries and concussions from team medics in order to maintain an invincible image and remain on the field, which ultimately increases the danger of these serious injuries in the long-term.

    Shontayne Hape played rugby league for New Zealand and union for England until repeated head injuries ended his career and threatened his health both in the short and long term future.

    The dual-code international retired after medical consultation following over 30 concussions.

    The repeated head injuries were not allowing him to perform as a player on the field or as a father of it and he decided that his days of professional sport were over.

    Hape has since undertaken a university course in management and still helps train junior rugby players. He recently wrote a public letter tackling the issue of player welfare in rugby and how the sport’s governing bodies need to reassess how they protect their most prized assets.

    We spoke to Hape at the Apollo Perelini Rugby Skills Academy at Repton School, Dubai where the two former international rugby stars were passing their knowledge onto the next generation of players.

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