18 Jul 2013

IRB to review sideline concussion test

8:31 am on 18 July 2013

The International Rugby Board has decided to review its controversial in-match test for concussion.

The Pitchside Suspected Concussion Assessment, which has been in place for a year, came to prominence during the third British and Irish Lions test against Australia in Sydney earlier this month.

Only a few minutes into the match the Wallabies flanker George Smith was involved in a fearful head-to-head collision with the Lions hooker Richard Hibbard, but after being taken from the field he was allowed to return five minutes later, despite being unsteady on his feet.

The controversial system led to the resignation of the IRB's medical advisor Dr Barry O'Driscoll, an uncle of the Irish great Brian O'Driscoll, who warned in March that rugby was "trivialising" concussion.