With roughly one National Rugby League (NRL) player sustaining a concussion every three games and the recent retirements of several players, experts are urging for preventative measures to reduce head trauma-induced injuries.
Cronulla Sharks prop Dale Finucane formally announced his retirement effective immediately from the NRL last month following medical advice regarding his extensive history of head knocks.
A week later, Sydney Roosters halfback Luke Keary followed suit calling time on his 11-year career in first grade at the 2024 season’s end.
Sports-related concussion hospitalisations accounted for 24 per cent of head injuries and 83 per cent of intracranial injuries in 2020-21.
Conjoint Professor and neurologist Dr Christopher Levi has worked closely with the NRL to innovate and reform concussion protocols to help ensure the safety of players while sustaining the fundamentals of the game.
Source: Concussion in sport Australia
His findings shed light on the side effects repeated concussion events have on players.
“There is a relationship between concussion dose and risk of developing depression in former Rugby League players for those who experienced [a] higher frequency of head knocks”.
“It takes time for these results [qualitative data linking head trauma to mental impairment] to become solid. It is work that is ongoing and always developing”.
Following the retirements of Keary and Finucane, St George Illawarra Dragons centre Moses Suli suffered a severe concussion. The incident put everyone surrounding the NRL on high alert regarding the life-altering effects of concussion and impact-induced trauma to the head.
Consequently, calls for Kick-offs to be banned and other precautions to be implemented were mentioned as ways to protect player welfare.
Chris Levi said: “It’s a challenge as you can’t completely eliminate the risk of concussion in contact sport”.
