THE sight of a distressed Jeremy Loughman being taken off in a dazed state during the first minute of Ireland’s sobering exposure to the Maori in Hamilton on Wednesday raised a still more distressing question: Why was he allowed to return?
It flouted World Rugby’s protocol that “players displaying obvious on-pitch signs of concussion (Criteria 1) are immediately and permanently removed from play and the completion of the off-field screening tool (HIA) is not required”.