World Rugby considers tackling changes

Rules on tackling in rugby union may have to be amended in order to reduce the number of concussions and make the game safer, says World Rugby's chief medical officer.

A BBC Panorama investigation airing on Monday, presented by former Scotland and British and Irish Lions star John Beattie, looks at the impact of brain injuries resulting from playing rugby.

The issue has been particularly prevalent in recent times, with Wales' George North suffering four head injuries in a five-month period that kept him sidelined between March and August, while Australia's Tatafu Polota-Nau has also suffered high-profile concussion injuries.

The documentary says that reported concussions in rugby have doubled in the past five years, with a rise of 59 per cent in England.

Dr Martin Raftery, World Rugby's senior medical figure, spoke about the need to find ways to reduce brain injuries and believes rules on tackling should be the main focus.

"Player welfare is about identifying what the risk is and then bringing about change," he said.

"There's no doubt that the biggest area that we know where concussion is going to occur is in the tackle, so that will help us to look at the tackle and see what we can do to make it safer.

"My job is to identify risk and then look for solutions and then present those solutions to the law-makers to make the changes that will bring about protection of the athlete."

Dr James Robson, chief medical officer for the Scottish Rugby Union, also believes there needs to be a re-think on the rules.

"Two seasons ago we had a real push, a real initiative - we educated people that only by knowing what was happening with injury could we make a significant difference," he added.

"I truly believe that the doubling between that season and the following season of the number was actually down to that education.

"I strongly believe that we do need to look at the laws of the game and the way that it's played."