There was a clattering collision in the final round of the 2024 Six Nations, that left rugby fans and pundits asking questions around player welfare. A head to head collision between Italy’s Lorenzo Pani and Wales’ Mason Grady, saw the two players race for the loose ball and clash heads in the process.
Both men took a while to recuperate from the collision, and received on-field attention from their respective team medics. However, neither player was forced off for a Head Injury Assessment, with the team of match officials and independent adjudicating match doctor happy for play to continue. Also, the players were not forcefully removed through a reading on the new microchipped gum-shields, which had been seen previously throughout the competition.
Non-profit rugby union lobby group Progressive Rugby issued a statement, about how they were deeply disappointed with the decision not to remove either Lorenzo Pani or Mason Grady from the field, as a precaution following the clash on heads in the 61st minute.
Professor John Fairclough, of Progressive Rugby said: “The failure to remove either Lorenzo Pani or Mason Grady following a clear and obvious high-speed clash of heads again calls into question the elite game’s desire to cement the welfare of its players as its number one priority.
“We ask again that we learn the lessons of the past and the default position be to err on the side of caution to mitigate risk to short and long-term brain health.”