Warren Gatland: George North must put his health first

Warren Gatland has said that if George North ever plays rugby again it must only be after a neurological specialist deems him 100 per cent fit to return.

The British and Irish Lions coach was speaking in the wake of confirming Rob Howley (attack), Andy Farrell (defence) and Steve Borthwick (forwards) as his assistants to tour New Zealand next summer.

However, the media gathering in Carton House focused on the wellbeing of the currently “stood down” 24-year-old who has gathered all 65 Welsh caps, and three on the 2013 Lions tour, under Gatland.

Last Saturday the Northampton Saints winger landed heavily after being struck in the air by Adam Thompstone of the Leicester Tigers. Despite the television replay showing him laying motionless he was subsequently allowed return to the field after passing the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) test.

“I wasn’t involved so it is difficult for me to comment on Northampton and the processes they went through,” said Gatland. “They said they didn’t see the clip and he has passed a HIA test.

“So, from a coaching point of view you just assume that the processes are being followed, but absolutely I understand it is concerning as he has had a few knocks in the past and you just want to make sure they go through the right processes to make sure if he does play again that he is fully fit and he has recovered.”

Saints medics viewed video footage of the incident and the club stated he was "fully assessed by the doctor and passed fit to return to play". North has a history of concussions which include four head blows between November 2014 and March 2015, including two in one game against England in that season's Six Nations, and he was knocked unconscious in a Premiership match against Wasps which led to a five month hiatus from rugby.

“If he does pick up knocks in the future it needs to be dealt with and he needs to potentially consider what is the best process for him to go through,” Gatland continued. “He has stepped down in the past for a lengthy amount of time and if he needs to do that again there are people better qualified than me to make that decision.”

Despite Northampton releasing a statement post-match alluding to North “complaining of neck injury,” on Tuesday the club revealed that he has been “stood down” from all rugby until an “independent expert” said otherwise.

They also explained the previous Saturday’s decision with: “It is important to note this video footage is not always the full range of replay angles available to the TV viewing audience at home.”

And that: “World Rugby protocol dictated, given the evidence available to the medical team, the use of a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).”

North passing the HIA was one aspect of the situation that Gatland found confusing.

“A couple of things I find a bit strange at the moment was one: he passed the HIA. That’s a little bit confusing. And I’m not sure how conclusive the video evidence is as well. We have seen him do that before; he has taken a knock and he has just gone down and stayed still momentarily just to make sure everything is okay.

“I’ve just seen the clip and hear he has been stood down at the moment. I think if that is just for safety reasons, that he is right. The best possible scenario at the moment is to make sure there isn’t any risk to his health. Apart from the game that’s the most important thing long term, his health. We have made comments before that definitely he needs to put himself first, his long term health to make sure he is fit.

“I think there is a little bit of confusion over the process he has gone through.”

Understand the public reaction?

“Yeah, I think so, absolutely.

“I can promise you there will be no pressure from me in terms of him getting on the field quickly. His health is the most important thing for me and getting him 100 per cent right and not just in the short term but in the long term.

“There is quite a bit of evidence to show that there is potentially long term effect for people who have taken head knocks in contact sports.

“He will see specialists about that to make sure he is right. As I said rugby is secondary. There will definitely be no pressure from us to get him back on the field.”

Similar concerns, regarding durability not concussion, were put to Gatland regarding any decision to bring Johnny Sexton on tour next summer.

“Obviously Johnny hasn’t played a lot of rugby recently,” said Gatland. “You want him to get through the Six Nations. It’s making sure I do my job properly. You look at the quality of someone like Johnny Sexton and the experience he’s had.

“The conversation with Jonny might be ‘We might take you on tour. There’s been a little bit of concern about your durability. If you do pick up a knock or an injury and you’re out for a couple of weeks, the quality of the squad is that, someone else could step into your shoes and when you come back, normally when you come back in an Irish situation, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been out, you go straight back into the team as number one.

“If you come into a Lions situation, if someone is playing well, you might not be going back into that starting side as a 10, you might be sitting on the bench or not involved. How are you going to be able to handle that? Are you going to be prepared for that? What’s your attitude around the team and squad going to be like?

“If I’m doing my job properly, I’ve had that conversation with him and potentially he’s got his head right and he’s prepared for that potential eventuality if it does happen.

“The Lions can be a different sort of animal or beast when you have the quality of players to choose from. It’s different.

“From his point of view, in the next few months and Six Nations are important for him. A couple of other players have done alright for Ireland - Paddy Jackson and the young boy Carbery looks alright for the future as well.

“I think Johnny probably knows he’s probably under a little bit of pressure to be fit and perform too.”