Former World Rugby medical advisor Dr. Barry O’Driscoll has admitted that Wales star George North may have to consider his career and may be forced to retire should he receive another concussion.
The current Northampton Saints and Wales winger has already suffered from a number of concussion injuries already in his promising career and had to take an extended break from the sport in 2015 as he made a full recovery.
And speaking to BBC Sport, Dr. O’Driscoll said that should the 23-year-old suffer another concussion then it could result in serious repercussions:
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.
It’s his living and it’s a very good living and he loves it… and he would I’m sure and his advisers would make him think seriously about it.
But it’s a balance for each person to make and I don’t think we’re anywhere near the stage of the game of saying, ‘No, that’s it, we can’t pick you anymore’, [because] we don’t know enough yet.
But any player at all who has had three or four concussions, in my opinion, must seriously think about the future.
The ever-growing list of head injuries occurring in rugby union has caused a lot of concern for sporting officials whilst Wales sevens specialist Matthew Pewtner retired this week at the age of 25 following medical advice regarding a head injury.
