Loughman incident 'deeply alarming', say welfare group

A player welfare lobby group says it's "deeply alarming" that Jeremy Loughman was allowed return to the field of play after a head injury during Ireland's 32-17 defeat to the Maori All Blacks.

The Munster prop suffered a head injury just one minute into this morning's game at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, and could be seen stumbling as he tried to get back to his feet.

Loughman was removed from the game before returning after passing a head injury assessment, only to be permanently replaced at half time by Cian Healy.

However, World Rugby's guidelines would suggest that Loughman should not have been allowed return to the pitch having displayed obvious signs of concussion, which would make a HIA redundant.

Eight days ago, the game's governing body announced increased measures to deal with concussion.

Progressive Rugby, a lobby group whose members include outspoken player welfare campaigners such as Alix Popham, Kyren Bracken and Dr Barry O'Driscoll, say Loughman's return to the game is unacceptable.

"It is deeply alarming, just days after World Rugby's bold announcement of a 'gold standard' concussion protocol from 1st July, that a player clearly demonstrating signs of a traumatic brain injury has not been removed whilst in full glare of the media.

"Even under the current protocol, the safety of Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman demanded his immediate and permanent removal, but the process failed," a statement reads.

They go on to draw comparisons between Loughman's case, and the high profile incident involving Wales prop Tomas Francis during their Six Nations meeting with England earlier this year.

On that occasion, Francis (below) was also allowed to return having displayed clear signs of concussion, before a review panel determined he