The NRL is considering ramping up its concussion protocols further with saliva and blood testing after introducing a mandatory 11-day stand down for players after brain injuries.
The ARL Commission confirmed the most significant changes to its concussion policy in almost a decade on Wednesday, declaring player safety is the game’s No.1 priority.
Under the new rules, which come into effect from Thursday, players who have been diagnosed with a concussion will be automatically stood down for an 11-day period.
That will mean they are guaranteed to miss the following weekend’s match and potentially a second game depending on turnaround times.
Players will only be able to return sooner in exceptional circumstances and after approval from an NRL-appointed independent neurologist.
To return early, the player must be asymptomatic the day following the concussion, and cognitive testing must have returned to normal.
Players will be ineligible to apply for an early return if they have had five or more concussions previously, experienced a concussion in the past three months or have had a prolonged recovery in the past.
Exemptions will not be available to any player deemed to have received a category-one concussion on the field.
Those are determined if a player loses consciousness, fails to protect themself while falling or shows unsteadiness on their feet after a head knock.
The rule change comes as injured players launch a class action against the AFL, seeking up to $1 billion in damages.
The NRL say their changes are about player safety rather than legal threats, following advice from experts and after watching worldwide trends.
“There is no greater priority for us than player safety. It’s front and centre of everything we do,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys said.
“Our current head injury protocols are exceptionally strong.
“Following a review of the data and the expert advice we have received, the Commission have enhanced these protocols even further by providing a mandatory 11-day stand-down period following a diagnosed concussion.”
The NRL also confirmed it would consider monitoring technologies such as blood and saliva testing as a tool for diagnosing concussions.
Two years ago, British researchers reported a study of 150 rugby players between 2017 and 2019 had shown 94 per cent accuracy in picking up concussions via saliva testing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week approved a commercial blood test to assess concussions, with results available within 18 minutes.
The 11-day standdown marks the biggest change to the NRL’s approach to concussions since the introduction of the head injury assessment system in 2014.
The protocols have the support of the players’ union and bring the sport into line with World Rugby, which last year introduced an 11-day stand-down period for the 15-player game.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold on Wednesday backed the move, having experienced the World Rugby system first-hand during his time as an assistant coach with England.
“I have experienced it before and would have no qualms with it,” Seibold said.
“It’s about protecting the players and protecting their health, both in the short-term and long-term.”
The changes come days after the latest concussion suffered by Kalyn Ponga, with Newcastle weighing up on how to best deal with his fourth brain injury in 10 months.
