Player welfare campaigners have welcomed World Rugby’s decision to extend the minimum stand-down period for most concussed elite-level players to 12 days from 1 July but have also called it “long overdue” and said it is “not the perfect solution” to the game’s ongoing head injury-related issues.
Until now players have been allowed to return to play after seven days if they satisfy a series of graduated protocols. But from next month it will be forbidden for concussed individuals to play again the following weekend unless they have a satisfactory concussion history and have also received a specific all‑clear by an independent specialist.
