Northampton And Wales Rugby Player Has Suffered Four Head Injuries In Five Months

Northampton Saints and Wales international winger George North has been warned not to play again this season, following his fourth head injury in under six months.

All four injuries took place this season, two of which were received while playing against England in the Six Nations. The most recent came as North was knocked out during Northampton’s win over Wasps last week by Nathan Hughes, who was sent off for dangerous play.

The advice comes from former World Rugby medical advisor Dr Barry O'Driscoll, an outspoken critic of the way rugby's governing body manages head injuries. He resigned from his post in 2012 in protest of concussion protocols.

"Somebody who has four concussions in five months - two in one game - and is going back to such a brutal game as rugby should be having a long rest from rugby under the care of a neurologist," O'Driscoll told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"There should be no more rugby for George North this rugby year," he said.

Expert Opinion

Taking medical advice following a head injury and concussion is vital, particularly in this case, where George North has been knocked out four times in the last five months, with two incidents in one game. <br/> <br/>“We have seen time and time again the long-term damage head injuries can have on those involved in contact sports if they do not take the time to be treated correctly and fully recover. While we don’t want to see the best players in a game sitting on the sidelines, it is vital they take their health seriously and listen to the advice from medical professionals where head injuries are concerned. <br/> <br/>“A failure to take head injuries and concussions seriously can have potentially fatal consequences for those affected and we would back Dr O’Driscoll’s comments and encourage Northampton Saints to rest North for the rest of the season if that’s what the expert doctors suggest. Stephen Nye - Partner