The Rugby Players’ Association, who represent elite players in England, have responded to growing concerns about impact of repeated concussions sustained by players and are looking to formalise their existing education programme into mandatory training.
David Barnes, the RPA’s rugby director and former Bath prop, said he wants the game’s authorities to formalise concussion education so everybody who plays understands the risks associated with head trauma.
‘As our understanding of concussion and its long-term effects increases, we need to move accordingly so our members continue to receive the highest standard of care. We back the RFU’s Headcase awareness programme, but we agree it needs to go a step further and become compulsory.’
There has been growing awareness and concern about the effect of repeated head injuries or ‘second impact syndrome’ in sport, particularly in America, where American Footballers are required to wear helmets due to established concerns about the incidence of brain damage after repeated knocks.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2477651/Victory-concussion-campaign-players-union-backs-compulsory-training.html
