Just reading today's 'i' 6 July 11 (can't provide link as I'm posting from my mobile) and there is an article on page 45 by Gerard Wright about concussion in the NFL. Studies have identified that former American Footballers are 5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's and related afflictions when compared with the national average. Post-mortem examinations of 15 former football showed signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), that mimic dementia, Alzheimer's and in some cases Amyotophic Lateral Sclerosis or Motor Neurone Disease, the condition that former Springboard Joost van der Westhuisen has been diagnosed with.

These conditions have until recently been the concern of boxers, however, growing evidence is showing that these conditions are evident in the NFL and RU. Indeed, the IRB has introduced new guidelines on diagnosis, care and return-to-play. do you think it is a problem in RL? Should the RFL at least be looking at the issue? Any experts out there wish to comment?

i also remember reading a report about the unusually high incidence of degenerative neurological disorders amongst retired footballers. specfically those who played when the balls were still like large cricket balls. all that heading apparently.

theres far more 'head on head' contact in NFL even though its been outlawed

and i think van der Westhuisen is just unlucky and one of the small percentage that would get MND anyway..if he was a forward and getting kicked in the head during mauls half a dozen times a game then i could believe it...but not a flyhalf....

obviously if a player gets knocked out theres a duty of care that the club & officials have to look after the player in question.....personally i think they should be made to sit out the rest of the game

One has to question the duty of care delivered by governing bodies when individuals such as Dave Pear, who is suffered numerous concussions playing Gridiron and is now brain damaged almost certainly as a result of his sport, say "personally, I wish I'd never played because it wasn't worth it".

Agreed, however, a side article in the 'i' also mentions that Bernard Jackman and John Fogarty, both International RU hookers who played for Leinster, have retired due to repeated concussions.

We see players 'groggy' after big hits on TV most weeks yet they play on or have a spell on the bench. I'm not suggesting that we should change the rules to minimise the risk and that would fundamentally change the game for the worse, however, I do think that maybe referees should be more robust in insisting that a player should leave the field for the rest on a game or clubs should be stopped from playing a play for a week or 2 after being knocked out or a severe concussion. Possibly introduce mandatory scans after head injuries?

RFL view on dealing with head injuries: www.nwc13-15arl.co.uk/news_display.php?id=216 and on head-guards: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/6137

RFL view on dealing with head injuries: www.nwc13-15arl.co.uk/news_display.php?id=216 and on head-guards: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/6137

Ask some of the players from past generations when being 'taken out' was all part of the game. Generally, unless it is an intentional smack round the chops or an accident, there's little to worry about in RL.

Think the game has it much better addressed than in past years.

I was concussed playing RU a few years back. I'm fffffine. In all seriousness, I was fine after.

most players get knocked out these days cos of poor tackling technique....like the st helens kid on friday night,head completely in the wrong place

No longer on his shoulders? Re. the old footballers - did anyone see the sorry state Jeff Astle (RIP)ended up in, doing cameos on a 'lads mag' tv football show. That was down to heading the old 'christmas pudding' footballs.

Wiki quote 'The cause of death was a degenerative brain disease; failing mental ability had first become apparent as much as five years earlier. He had been an exceptional header of the ball, and the coroner found that the repeated minor trauma had been the cause of his death. (The leather footballs used in Astle's playing days were considerably heavier than the plastic ones of today, especially when wet). A verdict of death by industrial injury was recorded.'

The issue isn't serious concussions though - its the sheer frequency of even relatively minor impacts which leave no signs of concussion that have been linked to degenerative illnesses.

I'd say concussion is a problem in all forms of life, not just RL!

Long term playing of rugby league cannot be good for your long term health. I think that is inevitable. Human beings are not designed for such things. Extreme sports come with extreme risks attached. I understand insurance costs are pretty high which would point to the potential danger associated with the game.

Would anyone ever envisage a time when head guards become compulsory?

As the link above suggests, head-guards do not protect you from brain or other injuries but just cuts and other superficial injuries.