Blue concussion cards to be trialled in Australia

Editor

Referees in Australia will be able to show a blue card to any players suspected of suffering a concussion, a report revealed on Thursday.

The trial, also underway in New Zealand, will enable referees to prevent players who have been concussed from staying on the pitch.

Blue cards are set to be trialled in two regions in Australian club rugby, according to Reuters, and any adult player shown a blue card must be required to stand down from all training and playing for 12 days. For players under the age of 18, that period is set at 19 days.

Medical approval will then be necessary for players to return.

“The blue card trial follows over two years of extensive research on concussion and concussion management from World Rugby down through each nation,” ARU Chief Medical Officer Warren McDonald said in a statement.

“The blue card is a visual cue that a player has a suspected concussion and they will be removed from the field of play and won’t be coming back that day.

“It’s about recognising and removing a player that is suffering the effects of a head knock.”