Rugby Is Having an NFL Moment as Concussions Bring Legal Scrutiny
Is This Rugby Union’s NFL Moment?
Millions of television viewers knew Wales winger George North had lost consciousness when he flopped to the ground after banging his head trying to stop England from scoring in their opening match of rugby’s 6 Nations tournament.
His team doctors, however, didn’t see his head strike a teammate’s or the awkward face-first collapse, his second in the 21-16 loss Feb. 6 in Cardiff. The 1.93-meter, 109-kilogram (6- foot-4, 240-pound) athlete got up and played on, only to miss the next several weeks recovering. The incident comes as rugby and other contact sports like the National Football League are focused on protecting players — bigger, faster and fitter than ever — while delivering entertainment in a crowded market.