Tom Curry believes ruby has “come on leaps and bounds in terms of player safety” amid fears the sport’s future as a huge lawsuit looms.
Nearly 200 former players, including England’s 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, have launched lawsuits against World Rugby.
"Rugby is a contact sport. You work on your tackle technique, you try and get it right but ultimately it’s very different every time you do it,” said Curry, who suffered his latest head knock during England's summer tour..
He added: "Rugby is being put into a better spot with research and what’s going on,”
“I’ve got full confidence in my long-term health. I’ll let the scientists take care of that and let’s crack on and play rugby.
“If the research backs the change to the protocols then I’m all for it. At the end of the day my job is to play rugby.”
Curry added: “Look at two or three years ago when you had to win the contest against clearers and survive the clear out. Rugby has made huge steps forward.
“We can always say this or that would be better, but from where we started to where we are now we have come on leaps and bounds in terms of player safety.”
Tom Curry facts: 5 things you didn’t know
1. Rugby family
He, along with his twin brother Ben, is the son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver and cousin of Doncaster Knights fly-half Sam Olver.
2. Football trial
It is true that the brothers had a trial at Manchester City, who the twins support, but that was scuppered by Tom scoring a spectacular own goal. Probably for the best in the end.
3. Record-breaker
Tom made his professional debut against Scarlets on 15 October 2016 in the European Champions Cup, becoming the fourth-youngest English player and youngest Sale Sharks player to have played in the competition.
Making his England debut five days before his 19th birthday against Argentina in 2017, Curry became England’s youngest forward since 1912. In that period, only Jonny Wilkinson debuted for the country at a younger age.
The youngest player in England’s 2019 World Cup squad, Curry also became the youngest English forward to play at a World Cup. His performances at the tournament, including a Man of the Match display against Australia in the quarter-finals, saw him nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award.
4. How to tell the twins apart?
The only way you can tell them apart is by their hair. Tom has his styled to the right while Ben has his swept to the left.
5. National League routes
The duo played for Sale FC in National 2 League North before making their debut for Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership.
