"Loughman should not have been allowed back onto the field" - New Zealand Rugby
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New Zealand Rugby has conducted a review of the Injury Assessment (HIA) process followed for Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman during the match between the Māori All Blacks and Ireland on Wednesday.
Loughman suffered a head knock in the match's opening minutes but returned to the pitch by the 14th minute. He played out the remainder of the first half but did not return in the second.
The events were highly criticised during and after the match, with lobby group Progressive Rugby tweeting:
'21st'June: WR announce 'Gold'StandStandard'ussion protocol
29th June: ONE minute in, Irish prop Jeremy Loughman leaves pitch with clear Cat 1 symptoms so must be permanently removed with no HIA.
Has HIA & returns
A repeat of the Tomas Francis affair
Shameful and needs answers.'
21st June: WR announce ‘Gold Standard’ concussion protocol
— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) June 29, 2022
29th June: ONE minute in Irish prop Jeremy Loughman leaves pitch with clear Cat 1 symptoms so must be permanently removed with no HIA.
Has HIA & returns
A repeat of the Tomas Francis affair
Shameful and needs answers. https://t.co/NFFMM0tWvB
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After the match, Ireland coach Andy Farrell confirmed that Loughman had passed his HIA, but the coaching team decided to remove him from the game at halftime as a precaution.
"Jeremy actually passed his HIA with an independent doctor. We brought him off as a precaution." Farrell explained.
Following the incident, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) conducted a review of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process and released the following statement NZR Medical Manager Karen Rassmussen, who led the review.
"New Zealand Rugby has conducted a review of the HIA process during the Māori All Blacks match against Ireland at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Wednesday, 29 June. As a result of this review, NZR believes Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman should not have been allowed back onto the field during the first half.
"While "NZR stands by the HIA processes in place and is satisfied that player welfare is the number one priority for medical staff at the match, we have identified a gap in communications, which meant critical video evidence was not fully accounted for as part of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process undertaken by the independent match day medical team. We will be reinforcing the full HIA process and protocols for the remainder of the Steinlager Series to ensure video evidence is communicated more accurately between independent match day medical staff to enable them to make the right call with regards to player safety." – NZR Medical Manager Karen Rasmussen
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