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duty of care

Leinster Schools Committee will hold investigation into concussion call row

Gary Glennon was the target of an irate Gonzaga backroom team member after the ref called for a player to be replaced due to suspected concussion.

LEINSTER RUGBY HAVE today released a statement following enquiries about an on-field argument during a schools Senior Cup match yesterday.

A view of a scrum Louis Stewart / INPHO Louis Stewart / INPHO / INPHO

In the 55th minute of Roscrea’s win over Gonzaga, referee Gary Glennon ordered the replacement of Gonzaga’s Fiachra Keane on the basis of a suspected concussion.

Glennon could be heard in the Setanta Sports coverage explaining to two members of the Gonzaga backroom team that there was no Head Injury Assessment (HIA) available and the player must be replaced.

Keane is wearing a blue scrum cap and making a tackle for Gonzaga (green) in the below gif.

zaga concussion Tweet by Colm O'Donoghue Tweet by Colm O'Donoghue

A Gonzaga representative continued to argue with Glennon, insisting that the issue was ‘not a head injury’ while Glennon disagreed and repeatedly ordered the man to “leave the pitch.”

While confirming there would be an internal investigation in to the matter, Leinster moved to clarify their position by saying:

“The referee is the ultimate arbiter of all games played at all levels and it is with he/she that any final decision rests with regard to on-field activity and this includes the removal of a player for medical reasons.”

The province also provided a link to the IRFU’s concussion information page, which stresses (capitals are the IRFU’s):

If a player has ANY ONE of the visible clues (of concussion) they MUST be immediately removed from activity and MUST NOT return until they have completed the graduated return to play (GRTP) protocol.”

The GRTP guidelines, for schools level, state that a player with suspected concussion must go through a minimum rest period of 14 days before going through the eight-day process of proving their fitness to take the field. The minimum time out for players under 20 years of age is 23 days.

Leinster added:

Leinster Rugby would ask all those involved in the domestic game to inform themselves of their responsibilities to STOP – INFORM – REST – RETURN and if a player has any one of the signs or symptoms of concussion he/she should be removed from the field of play and not allowed to return.”

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