North could be available for Northampton’s Aviva Premiership match against Sale on Dec 23, although there is no definitive timeframe for his return to action. His last serious concussion, after a series of four head injuries in five months, led to him missing five months of play.

Coincidentally, World Rugby has announced a “zero-tolerance approach” to reduce the number of head injuries. From Jan 3, new tougher penalties will be introduced for making contact with the head of an opposition player, whether accidental or reckless. The minimum sanction for a reckless tackle will be a yellow card and for an accidental tackle it will be a penalty.

World Rugby’s goal is to “ensure that the head is a no-go area” even if it claims that there has been no rise in the amount of concussions.