25^th July 2025. Garry Ringrose withdraws from selection consideration for Lions 2^nd Test against Australia.

Luca applauds the decision on 24^th July of Lions and Irish centre, Garry Ringrose, to self-declare continuing symptoms from his delayed concussion sustained while playing against the ACT Brumbies on 9^th July.

It meant that he had to withdraw from likely selection for the 2^nd Test match versus Australia on 26^th July and missing out on a massive game in his career. It sends a very positive message of how important it is for players to recognise and respond to post-brain injury symptoms.

Ringrose and the Lions had followed the 12-day return to play protocols adopted in elite rugby. He played for the Lions against the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday (22^nd July) without apparent re-injury. However, 36-hours after the game, he declared recurrent symptoms.

It highlights that present methods of assessing brain recovery are not foolproof. Symptoms can continue or return (in this case at 15 days) after injury. We all need to tread on the side of safety and strive to identify validated objective tools for recognising adequate brain recovery to guide athletes and clinicians for the future.