Tom Curry has backed rugby’s new concussion protocol after a shocking episode in the NFL put sport’s treatment of head injuries back in the spotlight.
Curry was on England duty yesterday for the first time since leaving the summer tour of Australia early following a third concussion in six months.
His return came in the week Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion in a game played just five days after he appeared to show concussion symptoms following another hit to the head.
The NFL Players Association have since fired the neurotrauma consultant who was part of the process that allowed Tagovailoa to return to the field the first time.
In contrast, Curry was subjected to World Rugby’s new 12-day stand-down following his concussion in England’s first Test defeat in Australia and ruled out of the next two.
The protocol, introduced in July, states that any player with a history of concussion or who is removed from a game with obvious symptoms, must sit out at least the next 12 days rather than undergo a seven-day HIA process.
“My welfare was definitely put first,” said the Sale star. “If the research backs it then I’m all for it. It shows the way rugby is going and the progression it’s making.”
The sport, of course, faces its own challenges with a lawsuit put forward by more than 185 former players, including World Cup winner Steve Thompson, alleging that the governing bodies failed to protect the players from permanent injuries.
But Curry, who captained England as recently as June, said: “The doctors have been brilliant in terms of monitoring me coming back.
“I’ve got full confidence in my long-term health. I’ll let the scientists take care of that and let’s crack on and play rugby.
“We can always say this or that would be better, but from where we started to where we are now we have come on leaps and bounds in terms of player safety.”
Eddie Jones’ squad spent yesterday team-building on an inflatable assault course at Thorpe Park.
Jonny May, whose England prospects in Australia were ruined by Covid, joined them and says he is as sure as he can be that what happened to Tagovailoa is not possible in rugby given the new protocols.
“The science and understanding of what recovery period is required has changed,” he said. “As has the awareness of actually what a concussion is.
“For example at the club we have a 30-minute seminar on what concussion is and its symptoms. That education for me wasn’t there 10 years ago.
“So the right things are happening. The reality, the hard truth, is that there are going to be head knocks in our game no matter what we do. As a player I understand that and still want to play."
England have finalised three of their four World Cup warm-up games against Wales away (Aug 5) and at home (Aug 12). Fiji will visit Twickenham on Aug 26.
Red Rose stars Ollie Lawrence and Ted Hill are among four players to have left crisis-club Worcester for loan spells at Bath.
England wing Jack Nowell has revealed he wants to follow Exeter team mate Sam Simmonds in moving abroad and could do so next season with his contract up in the summer.
Simmonds is France-bound at the end of this campaign, having signed for Montpellier, and Nowell said: “I’ve made it obvious before that one day that’s something I would like to do if my body allows me.
“Whether it’s next year or the year after I’m not too sure yet, but I’m in a position where I’ve always been in contract with the club and this is the first year where I’ve found myself not in contract next year.”
