Concussion concerns in rugby have once again come under scrutiny following a brutal head clash between Finn Russell and Darcy Graham during Scotland’s Six Nations match against Ireland. The collision, which occurred just 22 minutes into the game at Murrayfield, resulted in Graham being stretchered off the pitch in a neck brace, while Russell was immediately taken off for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
Scottish Rugby’s well-known slogan, “If in doubt, sit them out,” was prominently displayed at the match, emphasising the importance of head injury awareness. Despite initially passing the HIA, Russell was later rules out after displaying signs of confusion on the side-lines. Graham’s injury was confirmed as a concussion, adding to the growing concerns surrounding player welfare in sport.
According to Scottish Rugby’s Concussion Information Pack, players must be symptom-free for at least 14 days before resuming contact training. Meanwhile, World Rugby’s ConcussionGuidelines highlights that players with access to an ‘Advanced level of concussion care’ may receive individualised rehabilitation programs. Given these protocols, Russell and Graham will likely undergo a mandatory 12-day stand-down period, making them eligible to train on February 21 st – just one day before Scotland’s crucial Calcutta Cup clash against England.
Head injuries remain a persistent issue in professional rugby, with repeated concussions raising questions about the sport’s safety measures. This isn’t the first major concussion controversy in the Six Nations. Between 2014 and 2015, Wales’s third most-capped player, George North, suffered four head injuries. During a match against England on February 6th ,2015, North took an accidental kick to the head in the first half but was cleared to return to play. Later in the same game, he suffered another head-on-head collision with a teammate, knocking him out, yet he still completed the match.
Incidents like these have sent mixed messages about how concussions should be handled, particularly for young rugby players who look up to these athletes.
With increased awareness around chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the long-term impacts of repeated head injuries, the future of player safety in rugby is a pressing concern. Governing bodies such as World Rugby have introduced new tackle-height laws and enhanced HIA protocols, but critics argue that these measures may not go far enough. The question remains: is rugby doing enough to protect its players, or are further reforms needed to ensure long-term safety in the sport?
As discussions around concussion protocols continue, the responsibility falls on teams, medical staff and governing bodies to prioritise player welfare. The events at Murrayfield serve as a stark reminder that in high-impact sport like rugby, head injuries are not just an unfortunate reality but a critical issue that demands ongoing attention and action.
SCRUM have recently conducted a number of interviews with past Scottish players on the issue of head trauma in the game. To check those out just click here.
