Letter Published in The Guardian 08.12.16
Dear Sir
All the huffing and puffing by the Premiership Rugby about their protocols regarding the assessment pitch-side of a player who might have been badly concussed amounts to a dereliction of duty.
Protocols are frankly worthless unless there has been an established baseline recorded on each player in the off-season. Rugby players, footballers, boxers, jockeys, polo players, bikers et al need to have their brain scanned. When a player comes off or falls off having had a bang on the head he or she should stay off. He/she should have a second scan and these two records should then be compared. They should also be kept so the player has a continuous record of his/her brain in case in later life he or she develops dementia.
It is important that all sporting bodies recognise their duty of care to their players and performers. This lasts even when they have retired.
Your etc
Derek Wyatt