Highlanders v Queensland Reds, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Friday 26 May

[LeCheese]

Every head knock should get treated as a potential neck injury. It seems bizarre that the incident got reviewed and cleared of foul play, but none were concerned that Vests’ neck went sideways and what that might mean.

Makes missing a forward pass seem pretty insignificant.

For the most part, they are. If the player is down and not moving, the neck is always stabilised, and then an assessment is made.

Clearly the medics were comfortable that there was minimal risk of neck injury, despite later realisation. I don’t believe this is that unusual for stable fractures - all the medics have to go off on the field is player feedback on what hurts, where it hurts, how bad it hurts, and what movements can be made. Wouldn’t be the first time a player has downplayed or not immediately recognised the severity of an injury.

The medics nor anyone else on the field would not have seen his neck position in the tackle, as no replays were seemingly shown on the big screen. By the time the replay was shown, and comms could’ve been sent through, I believe Vest was already up and walking off.

 

[Dan54]

It's not actually first time it has happened, and obviously something that can slip through if there no symtoms showing. There was a case of a Reds prop (someone will remember his name) a few years back who had an injury in a maul or something. He was sent back to Qld by management, flew back by himself, got to Brisbane, nesxt day he went to hospitl for a scan and he had a broken neck. I was at a luncheon he spoke at, he said there was full panic when he was scanned, the Drs etc ran over, he was tied down to sttretcher and everything braced etc, he never played again. As he said someone had lent him a neck cushion for on plane etc and Drs wondered if that helped hold it in place etc.
I think we all have to remember medical peronal have only player's info etc to work with on sideline.
And I will add many years ago I moved a player , who a bit later Dr suspected of a broken neck, scarey as shit and thank f*** it wasn't anything that bad , and not just because it was my 14yo son!

 

[Braveheart81]

Super Rugby Pacific Statement on Connor Vest Incident​

Following incorrect media speculation on the management of the injury to Queensland Reds player Connor Vest Super Rugby Pacific has issued the following statement:​

Super Rugby Pacific has concluded a review of the incident involving an injury to Connor Vest of the Reds during the weekends match [Friday 26 May] between the Highlanders and Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Vest was injured during a tackle in the 28th minute of the match.

The review has found that at no stage did the Match Referee, Brendon Pickerill, attempt to hurry the review of the injury or the removal of the Player from the field.

The comments attributed to Harry Wilson of the Reds in the media are factually incorrect and whilst they may have been well intending in support of a teammate, he has been issued with a reminder that care must be taken with public comments not to impair the public confidence in the integrity of match officials.

Super Rugby Pacific Match Officials will always provide sufficient time for the treatment of injuries in consultation with Team and Match Day Medical staff to ensure that the appropriate level of care is able to be provided on any occasion. In regards to this incident, at no time was the referee made aware of the seriousness of the players injury or the need for more time or precautions.

The Incident was also reviewed post match by the independent Citing Commissioner who found no foul play had occurred by the tacklers.

The Tournament encourages players and coaches to have strong opinions however respect for match officials is a sacrosanct core value of the game and one which we take an unapologetic stance to protect.

 

[elementfreak]

there isn't anything he could do bar shoulder charge him? No arms tackle? He couldn't step to the side and tackle him around the body?

But he wasn’t trying to shoulder charge him in the head. He’s bent at the knees and hips with his arm up to make a legal tackle. 6 Highlanders isn’t the issue here.

Red 5 going that low into contact doesn’t help, but 2 Highlanders doing a speed bump tackle is the foul play that could have been dealt with. It’s an unfortunate incident, but 6 Highlanders tried his best to make a legal tackle.

 

[Slim 293]

but 2 Highlanders doing a speed bump tackle is the foul play that should be dealt with.

Indeed, which is why I find this statement troubling...

The Incident was also reviewed post match by the independent Citing Commissioner who found no foul play had occurred by the tacklers.

 

[Braveheart81]

Indeed, which is why I find this statement troubling...

It needs to meet the red card threshold for them to take action though which it certainly wasn't.

Maybe they should have made that clearer in the statement though.

 

[elementfreak]

Indeed, which is why I find this statement troubling...

The citing commission look for cardable offences IIRC. They have probably deemed it a PK only piece of FP, which means they haven’t found something of note for a card.

 

[Marbig]

Nice of SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) to provide any kind of specific examples to dispute what the Reds are saying.
Major cop out, just don’t see why the reds players (or just HW) would just make something like that up, even though they are probably pretty frustrated from the continued lack of action after Reds players have been hurt by illegal contact this season.

 

[LeCheese]

Super Rugby Pacific Statement on Connor Vest Incident​

Following incorrect media speculation on the management of the injury to Queensland Reds player Connor Vest Super Rugby Pacific has issued the following statement:​

Super Rugby Pacific has concluded a review of the incident involving an injury to Connor Vest of the Reds during the weekends match [Friday 26 May] between the Highlanders and Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Vest was injured during a tackle in the 28th minute of the match.

The review has found that at no stage did the Match Referee, Brendon Pickerill, attempt to hurry the review of the injury or the removal of the Player from the field.

The comments attributed to Harry Wilson of the Reds in the media are factually incorrect and whilst they may have been well intending in support of a teammate, he has been issued with a reminder that care must be taken with public comments not to impair the public confidence in the integrity of match officials.

Super Rugby Pacific Match Officials will always provide sufficient time for the treatment of injuries in consultation with Team and Match Day Medical staff to ensure that the appropriate level of care is able to be provided on any occasion. In regards to this incident, at no time was the referee made aware of the seriousness of the players injury or the need for more time or precautions.

The Incident was also reviewed post match by the independent Citing Commissioner who found no foul play had occurred by the tacklers.

The Tournament encourages players and coaches to have strong opinions however respect for match officials is a sacrosanct core value of the game and one which we take an unapologetic stance to protect.

Jeez pretty unprecedented statement for this sort of thing isn’t it?

 

[Ignoto]

The Tournament encourages players and coaches to have strong opinions however respect for match officials is a sacrosanct core value of the game and one which we take an unapologetic stance to protect.

Would have thought player welfare is up there no? Two illegal tackles on vest along with the others goes to show how farcical they are.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

The citing commission look for cardable offences IIRC. They have probably deemed it a PK only piece of FP, which means they haven’t found something of note for a card.

Is the Off Field Warning (that counted as a YC) still a thing in Super Rugby?

 

[Dan54]

Would have thought player welfare is up there no? Two illegal tackles on vest along with the others goes to show how farcical they are.

Well one illegal tackle, and the ones that no ref seems to of pulled up all year, have seen in multiple times where players not wrapping arms around knees etc, I think we even had it mentioned by Waiopehu Old Boy in one game thread

 

[elementfreak]

Is the Off Field Warning (that counted as a YC) still a thing in Super Rugby?

I'd assume so, but I haven't seen one all year.

 

[Tomthumb]

But he wasn’t trying to shoulder charge him in the head. He’s bent at the knees and hips with his arm up to make a legal tackle. 6 Highlanders isn’t the issue here.

Red 5 going that low into contact doesn’t help, but 2 Highlanders doing a speed bump tackle is the foul play that could have been dealt with. It’s an unfortunate incident, but 6 Highlanders tried his best to make a legal tackle.

By this logic, players going for the ball in the air that take out a player jumping higher than them shouldn't be a penalized either

 

[JRugby]

The non-citing and lack of on-field action aside - I think that statement by SANZAAR is fair. This article by Fairfax includes a video of the incident with rolling comms and IMHO completely vindicates Pickerill of any wrong doing.

He didn't see the incident live (like it or not, we're all only born with 1 set of eyes) and shifted the review onto his TMO. BP can't do anything more than that in the moment.

The video shows in real time that the reds medics have sat then stood Vest up before BP interacts with them at all. Only when BP is informed of a HIA he relays the message to the reds trainers and Vest who is again, already on his feet as instructed by the Reds trainers.

Other than the non-action on foul play (which I cannot understand personally, clear no arms tackle), Harry Wilson's comments towards BP specifically based on that video are completely unjustified and he should cop that warning on the chin

‘Factually incorrect’: SANZAAR reject Reds’ claim referee rushed player with neck fracture

New video of Brendon Pickerill’s handling of Connor Vest’s fractured neck incident refutes Queensland claims the whistleblower rushed the Reds player from the field.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au