Rugby: Braid out as union seeks solution to concussion issue

Luke Braid is having a two-week rest after two concussions this season. Photo / Getty Images

Luke Braid has been knocked out twice already this season and is heading for a two-week rest.

As New Zealand Rugby continues to get to grips with many high-profile concussion incidents this season, Braid's most recent happened in the second half of the Blues' 16-14 win over the Brumbies when he made a tackle in what at first looked like an innocuous collision. He was taken off straight away.

His first occurred in the loss to the Hurricanes in Palmerston North when he was kneed in the head by lock James Broadhurst in an act of foul play. Braid was taken straight off the field and didn't miss a game as the Blues had a bye the next weekend.

But now he's likely to have a fortnight off, meaning he'll miss not only tomorrow's match against the Highlanders but also the next one against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Jerome Kaino, Tony Woodcock and Josh Bekhuis have also been concussion casualties at the Blues this season, with Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck serving to put the issue higher on New Zealand Rugby's priority list after he played on despite being knocked out against the Crusaders last weekend.

The organisation will continue a trial in tomorrow's match between the Hurricanes and Waratahs in Wellington whereby the match doctor will be given a television to check for signs of concussion injuries after collisions.

The issue has led to some commentators saying that coaches should take more responsibility as they have more access to game footage than anyone else.

But Blues coach John Kirwan said doctors were still the best placed to make the decision on whether to withdraw a player.

"There are screens everywhere so our doctor sees that stuff and our doctor has responsibility for everything," he said. "If we notice something afterwards and [the player] has passed his [concussion] test then we need to say we think he's off his game by 5 per cent and we need to reassess it. I think the grey area is when they pass their test and they go back on ... I think if someone is knocked out and we can all see it, that's the test, I believe."

In Kaino's case he was clearly dazed in the match against the Lions but passed a test and played on after doctor Stephen Kara was unsighted and didn't see the loose forward stagger.

Kara later told the Herald if he had seen Kaino's reaction he would have taken him off straight away.

But Kirwan was in no doubt as to the best course of action. "It's a doctor issue and we need consistency around a whole lot of things with Sanzar at the moment. We need to get some consistency on the ruling on concussion."