Fabien Galthié did not hide his surprise on Friday February 12 when he learned the news. Live, during a press videoconference, the coach of the XV of France took the time to verify the information before commenting on it. “They have changed their hinge, we will have to adapt. “ They are the Irish, who host the Blues on Sunday February 14, on the second day of the Six Nations Tournament. They will have to do without their very experienced pair Conor Murray – Jonathan Sexton (43 and 49 capes respectively in the Tournament) to develop their game.
If Conor Murray, injured in training Thursday, is a last minute absentee, Jonathan Sexton animated the week, again embodying, with his defenses, the question of the consideration of concussions in rugby. Sunday, February 7, on the lawn of the Millenium Stadium, in Cardiff, the Irish captain remained seated for a long time, eyes haggard and arms hanging out. At the 69e minute of the clash between Wales and Ireland, Jonathan Sexton faltered. A knee – involuntary – from the Welshman Justin Tipuric to the temple forced the opener of the XV of Clover to leave his partners.
“Obviously I took a hit on the head, but I feel good, he said hot, following the meeting, preparing to follow concussion protocol. I just have a little lump on my temple. I’m used to it now. “Sexton fell into his seat as if he had received an uppercut and couldn’t get up immediately, observes Jean Chazal, neurosurgeon and honorary dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Clermont-Ferrand. He exhibited coordination disturbances characteristic of concussion. “
The former “best player in the world” – in 2018, during the last Irish Grand Slam – is no stranger to the question. The 35-year-old Irishman has a total of ten concussions in a match and has been forced, twice, to respect twelve weeks of rest. Four years ago, “Permanent uncertainty” related to the repeated shocks he had suffered already worried specialists.
Serious consequences on players victims of repeated shocks
In sport, the issue of head shocks is insidious: if invisible injuries may seem harmless, their accumulation is no less deleterious. In the medium and long term, several studies have shown serious consequences (dementia, Parkinson’s disease) on players victims of repeated shocks.
“We can have two types of 120 kg that fall on another of 80 kg. The current rugby has lost avoidance ”, notes Professor Chazal
“Rugby has become a combat sport, but without having the same rules as in boxing, or MMA, oh so violent sports, where you face an opponent of the same weight”, denounces Professor Chazal, who has pushed several players to interrupt their careers following numerous concussions. “Here, we can have two types of 120 kg that fall on another of 80 kg. Current rugby has lost avoidance. “
In stadiums without an audience, due to the pandemic linked to SARS-CoV-2, the shocks ring out all the more. To face it, World Rugby, which scolds the destiny of the World Ovalie, has reinforced its protocol for several years.
“We are starting to know a little about the damage that it can have later”, underlined, Tuesday, the French hooker Julien Marchand, himself groggy out of the match against Italy on Saturday 6 February – but declared fit following the concussion protocol. “Afterwards, no one is in his place. We don’t know what exactly he has. Maybe he just suffered a blow to the head and it’s okay. This whole procedure is delicate ”, he added of Sexton.
“Hide the symptoms”
The difficulty is that professional sportsmen often struggle to curb their desire to play. “Sexton is an iconic player, he is captain and Ireland want to win the Tournament. So he may be tempted to not want to let his teammates down, underlines Jean Chazal. This is the whole difficulty with concussions, as players may be tempted to mask the symptoms. “
“We discuss with the doctors and coaches, depending on the results of the tests. I never felt the slightest pressure to play after a blow to the head ”(Jonathan Sexton)
There is no shortage of examples in rugby of players lining up again a few days after suffering a concussion. At the last World Cup, in Japan, in the fall of 2019, Welsh opener Dan Biggar was authorized to start the quarter-final against the Blues, despite two head shocks suffered in as many games. A little over a year after the early retirement of the former captain of the XV du Leek, Sam Warburton, at 29, due to too many injuries – including to the head.
First concerned, Jonathan Sexton highlighted this week the progress in the consideration of concussions. “I hear stories of guys who get their heads banged on Saturday and come back to training on Tuesday, to take a hit to the head, before playing again on Saturday. It doesn’t happen these days. In rugby, we really care about ourselves now. ”
The back of the Blues Brice Dulin corroborates the words of his former partner in Racing: “We are very well followed. There are medical staff who monitor, independent doctors who monitor [les joueurs]. Doctors have prerogatives over the health of players. This is the first decision argument. “” For me, it has always worked like this: we discuss with the doctors and coaches, depending on the results of the tests. If I’m good, it’s good, otherwise it’s no. I never felt the slightest pressure to play after a blow to the head ”, warned Sexton, Wednesday at a press conference.
Annoyed, the Irishman complained in the week that his former doctor – when he was wearing the Racing 92 jersey -, Jean-François Chermann, commented on his condition a few hours after the meeting. “I have three kids and a wife, I’m not going to be stupid and risk anything. “ Friday, the XV du Trèfle illustrated the words of his opening half. To the surprise of the French staff, who “Honestly thought that they had passed the various stages to be considered suitable to begin”, as Fabien Galthié said, Jonathan Sexton and vice-captain James Ryan (also released on concussion) were not selected to face the Blues.
