Picture: North West University (NWU), Professor Hans de Ridder/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
23 September 2025- South Africans are still basking in the glow of the Springboks’ emphatic 43–10 dismantling of the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. It was a win that restored pride, silenced doubters and reaffirmed South Africa’s place at the summit of world rugby.
Now the Springboks will host Argentina in Durban as Rassie Erasmus’ men look to defend their Rugby Championship crown in the coming two weeks. Yet in between the moments of brilliance, the crowd’s patience is often tested by those now-familiar stoppages for Head Injury Assessments (HIAs).
Supporters groan when a star player is led off, frustrated by the interruption. What many fail to realise is that those pauses are not trivial, they are safeguards against tragedies that may unfold long after the final whistle.
Few have spent more time studying this balance of triumph and tragedy than Professor Hans de Ridder of North West University (NWU). A leading researcher in sports science, de Ridder argued that concussions are not inconveniences but “traumatic brain injuries caused by biomechanical forces, often rotational accelerations, transmitted to the brain.”
“In rugby, football, hockey and boxing, these forces are frequent and often celebrated as part of the game’s intensity. No helmet or technique can fully eliminate concussion risk, especially in high-impact sports. The culture of “toughing it out” is one of the sport’s greatest dangers.
“Athletes often push through pain for the sake of victory, team loyalty or career advancement. This creates a psychological conflict. A short-term glory versus long-term cognitive health. The ethical response is straightforward. From a duty-of-care perspective, coaches, trainers and organisations must prioritise health over performance,” said de Ridder.
He further said athletes must be fully informed about the risks. De Ridder added that glory should not come at the cost of irreversible neurological damage.
“Research is painting an increasingly grim picture of repeated head trauma. Neurophysiology shows that repeated concussions – even sub-concussive impacts – can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, memory loss, depression and motor dysfunction.
“Sport scientists are working not only to identify early biomarkers of brain trauma but also to “develop rehabilitation protocols and return-to-play guidelines based on objective data,” he said.
De Ridder said South Africa has aligned itself with World Rugby protocols through SARU and BokSmart. But he points to innovations abroad, particularly in New Zealand.
“New Zealand Rugby has developed a Brain Health and Concussion Risk Management. Framework that is both science-driven and adaptive. Instrumented mouthguards measure head impact forces in real time, while the ‘blue card’ system empowers referees to remove players at the first suspicion of concussion.
“South Africa is experimenting with similar technologies, such as NeuroFlex® virtual reality and SCAT6 protocols. New Zealand includes players, parents and medical staff in its education strategy. South Africa could benefit from broader community-level education tailored to local languages and cultural contexts,” said de Ridder.
He also highlights collaboration opportunities.
“The NWU is investigating a possible agreement with Lincoln University in Christchurch, led by Prof Mike Hamlin. Shared research, joint training programmes and pooled data could help us better understand concussion recovery and long-term outcomes.
“The issue is not confined to elite sport. A concussion isn’t just a bump or a bruise. It’s a brain injury. Even if you feel fine, the effects can linger silently, affecting memory, mood, sleep and future performance,” he said.
The Guardian 