World Rugby criticises handling of George North concussion investigation
Northampton and Wales winger suffers a head injury against Leicester this month, but was allowed to resume the match
World rugby’s ruling body has criticised the handling of the concussion suffered by Northampton’s George North against Leicester this month, saying that he should have left the field immediately and not returned.
A domestic Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) investigating the incident decided Northampton wrongly allowed the Welsh winger to resume playing after he sustained the injury in the Premiership game.
The group, however, did not call for the club to be punished.
World Rugby said on Friday it was unhappy with the way the injury was handled since the priority is always player welfare.
Watch: George North suffer head injury
“It is ... disappointing that apparent non-compliance with the sport’s elite head injury protocols led to George remaining on the field of play when he should have been immediately and permanently removed,” it said in a statement.