Six Nations

Roberts: North incident will make game safer

PA Sport

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Wales star and qualified doctor Jamie Roberts believes the fall-out from the George North concussion controversy will contribute towards making rugby union a safer sport.

The game's governing body World Rugby has said Wales wing North should not have remained on the field after a clash of heads with team-mate Richard Hibbard during last Friday's Six Nations clash against England.

But World Rugby added that it accepts the Welsh Rugby Union's explanation surrounding the incident.

Jamie Roberts says Wales' medical team dealt "fantastically well" with George North © Getty Images Enlarge

North appeared to suffer a momentary loss of consciousness after the 61st-minute collision with Hibbard. WRU national medical manager Prav Mathema subsequently admitted that had the second incident been seen by medics, then North would have been immediately taken off and replaced.

North left the field in the first-half after receiving an accidental boot to the head from England lock Dave Attwood, but he was able to continue after treatment.

World Rugby, meanwhile, has also announced that it will be "immediately investigating, evaluating and promoting the implementation" of new measures.

These are the practicality of television match official technology being expanded to identify head injuries as they happen on the field, all elite competitions being requested to provide pitchside video for medical staff, and all elite tournaments encouraged to adopt the Rugby World Cup 2015 player welfare standards.

"It's unfortunate, that second incident," said Roberts, speaking at the Wales squad training base on Tuesday. "I think all the protocols have been followed by the Union medical staff. It was unfortunate they didn't see it happen, the second one [incident].

"All the players trust the medical staff. They are a very experienced bunch, and we trust their calls. It was an unfortunate incident.

"A lot has been made of it, and rightly so. Concussion is a huge part of the game at the moment, and hopefully moving forward, the protocols that we put in place - from our side, there will be video replays now for the medical staff at home and away matches - are going to make the game safer for the players involved.

"Safety of the players is paramount. A lot has been made of this incident, but I think the medical team dealt with it fantastically well and did everything in their power and did everything right that they should have done."

As for World Rugby looking at possible TMO technology to assist in head injury situations, Roberts added: "You look back over the last 10 years at how referees have been able to have a video replay - whether a try has been scored or when certain things have happened - and medics haven't.

"I suppose that is a question that needs to be asked."

Wales resume their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield next Sunday, with head coach Warren Gatland due to name his starting line-up on Wednesday.

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