Concussion Expert Criticizes IRB's Stance on Concussions and Rugby
A renowned neurosurgeon and leader in the field of sports concussion research has criticized the International Rugby Board's stance on chronic brain trauma in an interview with PlanetRugby.com. Dr. Robert Cantu, co-director of Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, says that he and his team have strong evidence to suggest rugby players are being affected by a chronic, debilitating neurological disease that is a direct result of their rugby careers.
Dr. Cantu strongly disagrees with the IRB's stance that there is "no scientific link" between concussions and CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - a degenerative disease that is found in athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma. Symptoms of the disease include memory loss, confusion, depression, and dementia.
In an interview with PlanetRugby.com's Jamie Lyall, Dr. Cantu said that through his work studying the effects of football on the brain, he believes that "there will be cases of CTE in rugby... [and] the evidence will be overwhelming that it is repetitive brain trauma that's causing it."
If there is a positive to be brought out of Dr. Cantu's findings, it's that he believes the situation with CTE in rugby can be managed. "Fortunately, with rugby, there isn't a lot of head trauma," Dr. Cantu said. "But when it does occur, it can be quite significant and must be managed properly."
For Jamie Lyall's full interview with Dr. Cantu as well as a full article on the topic, visit PlanetRugby.com.