News24.com | World Rugby defends head-injury test as row rages over Sexton return

News24.com | World Rugby defends head-injury test as row rages over Sexton return

World Rugby has defended its Head Injury Assessment (HIA) procedure against “irresponsible” remote diagnosis following a row over the selection of Ireland captain Johnny Sexton for this weekend’s second Test against New Zealand.

The outstanding flyhalf, 37 next week, failed an on-field HIA after suffering a blow to the head a half-hour into Ireland’s 42-19 defeat by the All Blacks in Auckland last weekend and did not return to the field at Eden Park.

Nevertheless, he was named on Thursday in Ireland’s starting XV for the second Test in Dunedin, prompting safety campaign group Progressive Rugby to say HIA checks were “being exposed”.

World Rugby, however, has stressed failing the on-field assessment does not automatically mean a player has sustained concussion and there are two more stages in the process, both of which Sexton has passed ahead of being cleared to play on Saturday.

“It is the duty of any individual or organisation commenting on the Head Injury Assessment process to do so using the facts,” a World Rugby spokesperson told Britain’s PA news agency.

“Attempting to dia

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