Sale Sharks avoid sanction despite allowing TJ Ioane to continue playing after potential head injury

Rugby Football Union decided against punishing Sale Sharks after charges that the Aviva Premiership allowed TJ Ioane to continue playing despite suffering a potential head injury.

The incident happened during the 30th minute of Sale Sharks' Premiership Rugby clash against Harlequins on 7th January.

Following a joining inquiry from RFU and Premiership Rugby, the panel concluded that Sale Sharks' decision to continue playing Ioane was "a matter of clinical judgement by the team doctor".

Earlier, the Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) also cleared Northampton Saints for allowing Wales international George North to play despite he was knocked down after suffering a head injury.

"The group have concluded no further action will be taken and the decision not to undertake an Head Injury Assessment on the player was a matter of clinical judgement by the team doctor," read a joint RFU and Premiership Rugby statement.

"The team doctor's decision was based on his view of the injury mechanism in both real-time and following video review, and his direct assessment of the player's immediate and subsequent response to the injury event.

"The team doctor was in the immediate vicinity of the player, reviewed the real-time video footage and was best placed to make that decision.

"In continuing to monitor, reassess and question the player, both during and after the match, the team doctor was continuing his responsibility to evaluate the player's condition for any signs of a suspected head injury or concussion; none was apparent.

"While a case could have been made for the player's removal for an HIA following the incident, the group felt that the decision for the player to play on and be monitored was consistent with the range of current practice and current interpretation of the criteria for requesting an HIA.

"The decision to instigate the HIA then becomes a clinical judgement call of the doctor at the time."