SANZAAR 'disappointed' that the HIA protocols were wrongly interpreted
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Sanzaar has taken urgent steps to prevent a repeat of the blunder that could have cost the Crusaders a victory over the Reds in the Super Rugby clash in Brisbane over the weekend.
The matchday officials did not believe that replacement flyhalf Mitchell Hunt had been concussed the final 10 minutes of the match against the Reds which forced the Crusaders to bring starting flyhalf Richie Mo'unga back onto the park.
This resulted in Mo'unga being escorted off the pitch off the pitch with the Crusaders having already emptied their bench and were forced to play the final 6 minutes with 14 men.The Reds went on to score a try when replacement forward Scott Higginbotham was able to exploit the depleted defensive wall
SANZAAR released the following statement on the incident:
SANZAAR has today confirmed that sideline match officials made an incorrect ruling towards the end of the Reds versus Crusaders match on Saturday 2nd March in Brisbane.
Crusader number 22, Mitchell Hunt, who had replaced fly-half Richie Mo’unga [tactical substitution], was removed from the field in the 71st minute due to evidence he had received a concussive incident. This determination removed the requirement for a HIA assessment as per HIA protocols.
Hunt was then replaced by Mo’unga, despite Crusaders having used all their substitutions, as allowed by the same HIA protocols. Unfortunately a sideline official determined that as no HIA had been carried out Hunt was simply injured and therefore not allowed to be replaced. This lead to Mo’unga incorrectly being taken from the field at the 74 minute mark.
SANZAAR is disappointed that the HIA protocols, introduced into the game as player welfare measure, were wrongly interpreted and is taking steps to ensure such incidents do not occur moving forward.
Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mounga took a lighter approach to the incident after the game posting an picture of the incident with the tag "you see the bench you were sitting on, yeah go sit back down please “
View this post on Instagram“ you see the bench you were sitting on, yeah go sit back down please “ 🤦🏽♂️😂 #truey #mariusyaluvit
