1. The rugby authorities recommend that players who experience concussion should not play again for at least 21 consecutive days.'7"1 However, schoolboys were found to be playing again within this time limit, although the numbers involved were small. Rugby coaches and others need to be reminded that once a player has had concussion, the chance that it will occur again may be greater than for a player who has never sustained concussion' and that the effects of repeated minor head injuries may be cumulative.202' It was interesting to note that no spinal injuries occurred in the 1705 schoolboy players and 1169 rugby club players. Despite this type of injury being an extremely rare event, it is the rugby injury that has been the focus of much media attention.2224
2. Injuries presenting from Rugby Union football;Myers, P.T.;Med JAzsst,1980
3. Injuries in Rugby Union football;Davies, J.E.; Gibson, T.;BMJ,1978
4. Morbidity of Rugby Union injuries in New Zealand;Dixon, G.;NZ Sports Med,1993
5. A survey of rugby injuries attending an accident and emergency department;McQuillan, R.;Irish MedJ,1992