Sir, – On reading your report on the Leinster schools rugby match between Clongowes and St Michaels (February 19th) I elected to view the video clip on your site in real time prior to reading the article. In doing so I was fixated on the action and missed the plight of the Clongowes captain, John Moloney. It was only with a second take that the sequence of events became obvious. Hindsight is a great thing but I can appreciate how incidents may be missed. That withstanding there is no doubt a concussive head injury occurred. I am however dismayed that he may be kept away from rugby for a week. This is where the guidelines of world rugby are open to interpretation. As an adult once a player is symptom-free for 24 hours there is a graduated process of assessment and we frequently see players return the following week.
If however one is a child or an adolescent, then one is not allowed any play for two weeks before a graduated return. I would advise Clongowes that the WHO identifies adolescence as between ages 10 to19. I trust therefore they will be without their captain for three weeks. Yours, etc, Dr JONATHAN O’RIORDAN Consultant neurologist Dundee, Scotland.