Rugby heading for trouble – Bob Davies
Former champion jockey Bob Davies is urging the rest of the sporting world to follow the lead of racing in the treatment of head injuries.
Davies, now clerk of the course and secretary at Ludlow, is horrified that rugby union players are currently allowed to play on even if concussion is suspected.
"Racing is probably at the forefront of monitoring concussion and how it is treated," said Davies, who won the Grand National in 1978 on Lucius. "I was still racing when they brought in the first rule that if you were knocked out you couldn't ride for seven days.
"Now it is even more regulated. You do a basic test if you are concussed and you cannot ride again until you have passed a further test.
This was introduced by Dr Michael Turner of the British Horseracing Authority. I am amazed that in rugby players are allowed to go back on when they are concussed."
Dr Turner is to leave the BHA to conduct further research on concussion injuries.
