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 diagnose a serious medical condition like concussion from afar, without all the relevant information including a player's medical history, is irresponsible and no substitute for the world-leading medical care received by elite rugby players."

Sexton, who has had numerous concussions during his career, was withdrawn after slipping and colliding with New Zealand's Sam Kane.

Prior to 2011, a player concussed in rugby union was stood down for three weeks. But following concerns this encouraged players to conceal their symptoms, World Rugby reduced the mandatory stand-down period to a week, provided return-to-play protocols were followed.

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