John Fogarty was recently forced to retire due to concussion
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Gerry Thornley looks closer at the recent spate of concussions to have affected the game in The Irish Times.
"When rugby historians look back on this era of the game they will hopefully cite John Fogarty and Bernard Jackman as having been saviours of a sort. That their harrowing and cautionary tales of how they and other players have lived in denial about the consequences of concussion prompted the authorities to establish medical protocols which better safeguarded future generations of players.
"Failing that, it will have been due to something far worse. And that doesn’t bear thinking about. Quite simply, all sports have a duty of care to their protagonists. Indeed, that is their first duty. All else is secondary. In talking at length with consultant neurosurgeon Prof Jack Phillips last week, who outlined the protocols which exist in boxing and horse racing, it was no surprise to learn those two sports – arguably the most dangerous sports in the world – were 20 years and counting ahead of other sports."
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