Abstract:
Concussion is the number one injury risk in contact and collision sports. Identification of concussive
events is critical to optimise injury management and, as identified by Quarrie and Murphy¹, to
undertake accurate injury surveillance studies.
The Zurich Consensus Statement on Concussion² provides an expanded theoretical or conceptual
definition of concussion but there is not yet an operational definition of concussion.
In 2012 World Rugby introduced a new pitch side process for assessment of head injuries, called the
HIA³ (Head Injury Assessment). During the evolution of this process an operational definition of
concussion has been developed and successfully implemented.