Yesterday, @EnglandRugby released their widely delayed injury reports for the 2017-2018 (we have had over a seasons of play since then) on Christmas week. Were they hoping everyone may be busy with Christmas, Brexit and COVID?

https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/playing/player-welfare-rugby-safe/rugbysafe-research 1/5

But there has been little attention on the extremely alarming findings from the Youth Rugby Injury Surveillance Project (YRISP).

https://www.englandrugby.com/dxdam/fa/fa15407b-6cd2-45f4-b325-327634a43431/England%20YRISP%2018.19.pdf

Given that the Youth game is the largest constituent in rugby, only 16 schools as a sample is pretty abysmal.

2/5

Most worrying is that 31% of concussions at schools, who are actively engaged in Injury Monitoring, returned their players before the minimum concussion Return to Play timeframe (23 days). Clearly something isn't working? @RugbySafe 3/5

A third of concussions for young people in schools last for more than 1 month - Let's think about that? That is a tenth of a school year, suffering with things like cognitive impairment, head aches, dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, poor emotional health etc... 4/5

We now have an opportunity to stop a generation falling victim to the same ill-health and neurological concerns that is currently plaguing our ex professional rugby players. It seems that the recommendations I made to @EngRugbySchools in 2016 are still unheeded today. 5/5

CC @WinchesterProf @AllysonPollock @afPE_PE @JoePigginPhD @DrMelLang @JBatz85 @sportinaus @RhonddaBryant @sam_sportsnews @peterrobinson86 @RugbySciNetwork @PbrownNeuro @DawnAstle9 @RachelTaylor_68