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Wales scrumhalf Tomos Williams removed after 'sickening' head injury
Wales scrumhalf Tomos Williams lasted just 10 minutes against France after he suffered a clear concussive blow when defending a French attack.
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Williams could clearly be seen struggling to stand after taking a heavy blow tackling 110kg French centre Jonathan Danty.
Williams stumbled back into the defensive line but was barely able to remain standing. The incident happened behind referee Matthew Carley, wouldn’t didn’t stop play.
The attack ended roughly 30 seconds later when France’s Antony Jelonch rumbled over the try line, at which point Williams was removed from play by a member of the Welsh medical staff.
The incident wasn’t missed on Twitter. Journalist Neil Treacy wrote: “No surprise to see Tomos Williams head injury was a result of putting his head across the tackle, trying to tackle with his inside shoulder when the carrier is on the outside. Those tackles are as much of a threat to the game as head-high collisions, if not more. ”
No surprise to see Tomos Williams head injury was a result of putting his head across the tackle, trying to tackle with his inside shoulder when the carrier is on the outside.
Those tackles are as much of a threat to the game as head-high collisions, if not more. #WALvFRA
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) March 11, 2022
“That’s Tomos Williams off – he absolutely cannot be allowed to continue. Sickening head injury,” wrote the Mirror’s deputy editor, Tomos Davidson.
That’s Tomos Williams off – he absolutely cannot be allowed to continue. Sickening head injury.
— Tom Davidson (@TomDavidson09) March 11, 2022
The Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler’s Tweeted: “Tomos Williams will be back in ten minutes given Wales record with HIAs.”
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https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1502377704787689478
“I can’t believe play wasn’t stopped for Tomos Williams like the man physically couldn’t bring himself to his feet he was so concussed,” wrote one fan.
I can’t believe play wasn’t stopped for Tomos Williams like the man physically couldn’t bring himself to his feet he was so concussed #WALvFRA
— Cora Ní Ghallchóir (@_CoraNiG_) March 11, 2022
The incident comes just two weeks after tighthead prop Tomas Francis returned to the field against England despite clearly having suffered a brain injury while defending Wales’ line.
The handling of an incident involving Francis was criticised as a “clear and flagrant breach” of head injury assessment protocol.
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Progressive Rugby, a lobby group on player protection, wrote an open letter to World Rugby, which stated:
“Francis displayed clear symptoms/indications under the World Rugby Head Injury Assessment protocol that necessitate the immediate and permanent removal from play. No HIA was needed. While, after a delay, Francis was removed from the field he was, incorrectly, allowed to undergo an HIA assessment and returned to the field, playing until the 56th minute, at which time he was permanently replaced by Leon Brown. Progressive Rugby is concerned that the events demonstrate that individuals who have incurred brain injury have continued to be permitted to play which will place them at likelihood of risk.”
Wayne Pivac and Wales were then heavily critcised for clearing Francis to play France.
After losing to England at Twickenham, Wales face the task of stopping France closing in on a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2010.
Head coach Wayne Pivac made four changes with centre Jonathan Davies recalled to win his 95th Wales cap, Gareth Thomas coming in at loose-head prop, and Seb Davies and Josh Navidi brought into the back row.
France captain Antoine Dupont was declared fit for the Cardiff clash after injuring his arm in training. Winger Gabin Villiere was the only change to the side victorious in Scotland last month with Damian Penaud having tested positive for Covid-19.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments