Warren Gatland has urged Wales winger George North to prioritise his long-term health over making a quick return to rugby as he suffered yet another head injury last weekend.

North has been stood down from all rugby by his club Northampton after he landed on his neck after being tackled in the air again Leicester on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was allowed to return to the pitch after club doctors passed him fit enough to carry on and insisted he had never lost consciousness, despite lying motionless on the floor.

Saints have admitted their doctors did not have access to the full television replays of the incident before allowing North to continue and Premiership Rugby and the RFU are now investigating how he was allowed to return to the match following a Head Injury Inspection (HIA).

And British and Irish Lions boss Gatland has insisted North will be under no pressure to make a quick return to the field, despite the Six Nations beginning in early February.

"I promise you, there will be no pressure from me in terms of getting on the field quickly," said Wales and Lions boss Gatland.

"His health is the most important thing, not just in the short term but long term - there's quite a bit of evidence to show that there is potentially long-term effects for people who have taken a number of knocks in contact sport.

"He needs to consider that, to see specialists about that to show that he is 100 per cent right. Rugby is secondary, his health is the most important thing."

North has a history of head injuries, having suffered four in five months in 2014 and 2015, including two in one game during Wales’ Six Nations defeat to England.

George North has a history of concussions (Getty)

The final of those four concussions, in March 2015, led to a five-month absence from the game.

"I absolutely understand it's concerning, he's had a few knocks in the past and you want to make sure they go through the right process to make sure that if he does play again, he is fully fit and recovered.

"And if he does pick up knocks in the future, it needs to be dealt with and he needs to potentially consider what is the best process for him to go through.

"He has stepped down in the past for a lengthy amount of time, and if he does need that again, it's something people better qualified than me need to consider.

North lost consciousness twice in one game in 2015 (Getty) (Getty Images)

"I find it a bit strange; he passed the HIA. That is a bit confusing.

"I've just seen the clip and heard that he's been stood down. If that's for safety reasons, just to make sure he's right, it's the best scenario - to make sure there's no risk to his health.