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George North will have to think about retiring if he gets another concussion, says doctor
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The Wales wing suffered multiple concussions in 2015
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Dragons star Matthew Pewtner was forced to quit the sport this week due to a head injury
George North could be one more concussion away from retirement, according to former World Rugby medical adviser Dr Barry O’Driscoll.
The Wales wing suffered multiple concussions while on international duty and his club Northampton last season which led to him taking an extended break from the game to recover.
The 23-year-old is now back in action and scored for the men in red as they beat Scotland in the Six Nations last weekend.
But, with 25-year-old Dragons star Matthew Pewtner being forced to quit the sport this week due to a head injury, O’Driscoll has warned that many more players, North included, and probably Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton might have to follow suit for the good of their long-term health.
“I’m sure if (North) gets another one he will have to consider whether the worries about what the inference is from these is enough to make him give up the game,” he told the BBC.
“We have moved on with our knowledge and we’re more ready to advise players to retire. “Every case of this saddens you and worries you just that little bit more.
“It does seem that with the much bigger impacts and speed of the game that these repeated sub-concussive and concussive knocks are becoming more damaging more frequently.”