Hidden Impact (RTE 1)

Say Your Number

Documentary about concussion in sport, crazy description by O'Gara.

Jofspring

Very interesting program. Felt the IRFu lad being interviewed in the Aviva is still on a different planet. Kept deflecting.

By the looks of it World Rugby really need to put the foot down and say any suspicion of concussion the player must be removed from the game. I remember watch the Lions tour in South Africa DVD and James Hook was cleared as he was coherent. They decided to take him off and within 10 minutes he didn't have a bulls notion where he was.

Suffered concussion about 8 years ago myself playing football and was allowed to play on for the rest of the game. Have no recollection of the match and according to team mates I didn't even know who's clothes I was wearing, where I was or what I was doing.

ChippingSodbury

I agree about the IRFU guy: he just wasn't willing to accept any idea that there may be a problem.

My heart went out to Benjamin Robinson's mother when she said the ref told her "to calm down" when she knew there was a problem with her son as she was shouting at him from the sideline and could see him staggering.

What harm would be done if a player was stopped from playing because of a suspected concussion that turned out not to be a concussion? What harm would be done in the reverse: possibly fatal damage. I don't think people have quite grasped this.

Guy:Incognito

I know this was focusing on rugby and touched on american football but surely boxers brains must be like mush? How do any of them come out the other side with any sort of meaningful life? The amount of hits a rugby player takes has to pale in comparison to being hit constantly every time you fight and spar?

tabby aspreme

Could the GPS transponders that the professionals wear be used to record the G forces that the players take during the games, which would give a measure of how hard they have been hit.

Jofspring

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I know this was focusing on rugby and touched on american football but surely boxers brains must be like mush? How do any of them come out the other side with any sort of meaningful life? The amount of hits a rugby player takes has to pale in comparison to being hit constantly every time you fight and spar?

Ya boxing and I'm sure UFC too has and will continue to have even more serious problems. Just look at the amount of boxers that have emotional problems, tempremental problems, slurred speech, depression, a slowness in speed of thought and on and on.

ProfessorPlum

tabby aspreme wrote: »

Could the GPS transponders that the professionals wear be used to record the G forces that the players take during the games, which would give a measure of how hard they have been hit.

They already do - but I don't think you can infer directly what force the head has taken, or indeed how useful the information would be.

On the programme, the most shocking part was seeing the video footage of the Clongowes lad getting up after a hit, staggering and falling over again. And then being let play on. That is a child, and nobody was looking out for him. Should not have even considered letting him play on, Very similar situation to Benjamin Robinson's case. Did they not learn?

Nash Bridges

Really interesting show, I agree with Ben Robinson's mother, nothing much will change until a rugby player dies on the pitch when a match is being televised.

The recent examples shown of staggering concussed schoolboys being told to play and even unconscious six nations level professionals returning to play prove that winning is still more important than the players health.

Jofspring

Ya found the Clongowes one completely shocking to be honest. The pressure schools are putting youngfellas under is nothing short of disgraceful, especially the ones in leaving cert year. I can see why the young lad didn't want to come off with the pressure he was under to continue to play.

hof1982

This was very interesting. What was really worrying was the impact at schools level - clearly a big issue with education here. The video of the schoolboy wobbling and falling twice then coming back on was shocking. Best practice is much more easily enforced at the top but the issue will be down the ranks.

I have two boys at home and I certainly won't be encouraging them into rugby.

ProfessorPlum

hof1982 wrote: »

I have two boys at home and I certainly won't be encouraging them into rugby.

I don't think I'd go that far. I have two boys playing rugby, and both the club and school are very clear and proactive on their injury policy. The boys and us parents are also pretty well versed on concussion and the risks associating with playing on. Every sport has injury risks, some more than others, and there really is only beginning to be much interest in compiling statistics and quantifying the risks. Horse riding can have a high rate of serious injury for instance, we just don't hear about it so much. But overall the benefits of playing sport surely outweigh the risks.
Rugby is a great sport for kids, and there truly is a place for every child. I'm not so sure you could say the same for soccer, for example, which seems to be getting more and more competitive at a younger and younger age. Seeing 7 and 8 year olds 'dropped' in favour of the 'better' player who may rarely turn up for training is heartbreaking and very unfair. There seems to be a much more inclusive atmosphere in rugby in the younger age groups especially.
I do hope that the clubs and schools continue to take on board best practice and keep the game as safe as possible. I certainly hope we never see a repeat of what happened in that senior cup game. Tbh, if I was a parent at that school I'd be having very stern words (to put it mildly) with the coaches and school principal.