Fritz concussion - Toulouse get rap on knuckles

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9462663,00.html

Why am I not surprised, Toulouse get no more than a ticking off for the Florian Fritz concussion incident last season. For any who didn't see it, Fritz got an awful belt on the head, was bloody and clearly concussed, came off and then seemed to be ordered by Guy Noves while being treated in the dressing to get back out on the pitch. Then Noves made some idiotic comments after the game on the lines that when he was playing he got loads of belt in the head and didn't moan about it.

The LNR reasoning is that there were similar incidents during the French season which didn't get media attention and so it wouldn't be fair to penalise Toulouse because the Fritz incident took place during a high profile Top 14 playoff game against RM. Total bullsh1t!. Toulouse should have got a lot more than a rap of the knuckles and Noves a ban since he apparently deliberately sent a concussed player back on to the pitch.

At least it now seems, according to the Planet Rugby report, that there are now independent doctors at all Top 14 and Pro12 games who will have the final say on whether a player can continue after getting a bang on the head. Hope the same applies in the AP and internationals and we'll never see a repeat on the Fritz incident, not to mention previous episodes when BOD and George Smith played in (I think) Lions games when both were clearly concussed.

Well that shows how seriously the LNR take the issue of concussion.

We can't punish Toulouse because lots of other clubs are ignoring our protocols and endangering the health of players too.

Pathetic.

How about you punish all of them? Then they might just change their behaviour!

Shocking but not surprising.

Disgraceful. Clearly the Tolouse lawyers have put the wind up the LNR and they've backed off.

Good to hear about the independent docs coming in though.

If I was a lawyer for the LNR I would be seriously worried.

I hope someone sues them!

If Fritz is ever forced to retire early then his lawyer will have a field day.

re independent doctors , it is only agreed for the playoffs so far and for the 2nd half of the season (for any clubs who will fail to detect a concussion during the 1st half of the season that is). there will also be specific training sessions for all club medics. for what it is worth, player's safety falls into the FFR medical commision responsabilities.
LNR concussion rules need to be changed otherwise they will only be able to send letters because at the moment the rule does not have any sort of punishment attached to it.

In fairness to him, Guy Noves is old fashioned and probably not up to date with the effects of concussion. It might not have been discussed much in France and its only been raised in the English speaking world for a few years now. At least some good will come from the incident and they've no excuses no to be up to date now. Noves probably thought it was like getting a bang on the knee and running it off.

profitius wrote:In fairness to him, Guy Noves is old fashioned and probably not up to date with the effects of concussion. It might not have been discussed much in France and its only been raised in the English speaking world for a few years now. At least some good will come from the incident and they've no excuses no to be up to date now. Noves probably thought it was like getting a bang on the knee and running it off.

In fairness, if someone can barely stand, never mind walk straight they have no place on a rugby field. The IRB have issued directives to everyone regarding concussion so there is no excuse for the Noves not knowing and the medical staff are more aware than anyone of the dangers involved.

If you were to look at it from a sporting perspective, what good is someone who is groggy, unbalanced and diminished hand eye coordination to the team?

profitius wrote:In fairness to him, Guy Noves is old fashioned and probably not up to date with the effects of concussion. It might not have been discussed much in France and its only been raised in the English speaking world for a few years now. At least some good will come from the incident and they've no excuses no to be up to date now. Noves probably thought it was like getting a bang on the knee and running it off.

I really think this is off the mark.

We are talking about France here, not some remote, isolated wasteland. He must have known about the new guidelines. They are not even that new. This is his job!
When Ben Robinson died 3 and a half years ago we were appalled that a school teacher did not know the dangers of concussion. It is just unbelieveable that a professional rugby coach would not be fully aware of the guidelines.