Statement: Six Nations

International Rugby Players has contacted World Rugby and Six Nations Ltd., regarding several head injury issues in the recent men’s Six Nations competition.

The global players’ body has been involved with World Rugby over the last decade in formulating protocols, rules and regulations in relation to the Head Injury Assessment (HIA), Graduated Return to Play and general concussion management.

International Rugby Players CEO, Omar Hassanein said: “We cannot place enough emphasis on the importance of player safety, particularly where head injuries are concerned.

“This involves, not only the continued evolution of protocols based on science, but also ensuring that everyone plays their part in the proper implementation of those protocols.

“We believe in the need for openness and transparency and the need to project the right public message on head injuries, as well as the requirement for incidents of this nature to be investigated in a comprehensive and timely fashion.”