Dr Willie Stewart, the neuropathologist whose research recently uncovered a raised incidence of terminal neurodegenerative conditions among professional footballers in the 20th century, has urged governing bodies in sport to review their relationships with the controversial advisory panel the Concussion In Sport Group and any protocols they have formulated following the panel’s recommendations. Paul McCrory resigned last week as chair of the CISG after charges of multiple counts of plagiarism had been levelled at him.
In 2013 Stewart discovered the first known case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a rugby player and a year later confirmed CTE had been the cause of death of Jeff Astle, the former West Brom and England striker, who died in 2002. In response to an article in the Guardian about the Australian Football League’s decision to review the influence of McCrory, Stewart tweeted: “Suggest wider sport also review concussion policies informed by #CISG and their relationship with that group.”
Stewart has taken up a role advising World Rugby over its recently announced Brain Health Initiative, which aims to support and educate players concerned about the impact the sport may be having on their neurological health. Rugby union’s methods are under much scrutiny at present, with a lawsuit pending, brought by former players diagnosed with probable CTE.
In 2011, the minimum return-to-play protocol following a concussion in rugby was changed from three weeks, which had been the standard since 1977, to six days, as a result of the CISG’s recommendations. Stewart told the Scottish Rugby podcast in December that the evidence behind reducing the protocol in 2011 “was never really there”.
Hitherto, World Rugby has resisted calls to extend the minimum return to play, following recent moves in that direction by the AFL and the Rugby Football League. To change it might serve as a tacit admission that the current protocol is not and never has been fit for purpose, which would leave the defendants vulnerable in a lawsuit against the players. The resignation of McCrory, however, who has long been the most vocal denier of the link between sport and CTE, might create some wriggle room for World Rugby to make such a change without admitting liability.
Rugby’s handling of brain injuries came under further pressure this Six Nations. On Wednesday, the International Rugby Players association announced they had contacted World Rugby and the Six Nations over a number of concerning incidents of apparent brain-injury mismanagement. Investigations into the incidents have been announced, but so far no verdicts have been returned. In an era when players are regularly, and swiftly, banned for instantaneous mistakes in the heat of a match, any failure of officials to apply appropriate protocols with the luxury of time will elicit anger.
The Six Nations did not respond when contacted by the Guardian.
