Rugby: Warren Gatland expresses concern for Welsh star

George North has a history with concussions. Photo / Telegraph UK

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has expressed his concern for the well-being of Wales and Northampton wing George North, urging the player to put his own health first and not to return to playing until he is fully assured of his own fitness.

Gatland found himself under scrutiny when North was knocked out playing for Wales two years ago and after last weekend's episode in the Premiership match against Leicester, when North was seemingly struggling for consciousness, an incident which led to the player being referred to a specialist and stood down from playing, Gatland himself stated that he would be in no rush to encourage the player to return to playing before there is absolute certainty as to his condition.

North was a key weapon in the Lions armoury on the 2013 tour to Australia under Gatland's stewardship.

"Forget about rugby, George's health is the most important thing, not just in the short term but in the long term," said Gatland. "There's quite a bit of evidence to show that there are potentially long-term effects for people who have taken a number of knocks in contact sport. He needs to consider that, to see specialists about that to show that he is 100 per cent right. Rugby is secondary. His health is the most important thing."

This was the fourth time that North has had problems with contact to the head. Two of those incidents were on Gatland's watch as Wales head coach. As a result of the processes followed then, there has been a complete overhaul of the way in which such matters are monitored and dealt with.

There has been a furore over the way in which Northampton responded to the fall-out from the aerial clash that occurred in the Leicester game, only acknowledging on Tuesday that their medical team did not have complete access to the angles of the collision that featured on television. North was taken from the field but returned within eight minutes. The matter is now the subject of a Premiership rugby inquiry.

"There are two things I find a bit strange: that George passed the HIA (Head Injury Assessment) and I am not sure that he didn't stay still, just momentarily, to make sure everything was OK before he moved," said Gatland. "From a coaching point of view, you assume the process has been followed. I absolutely understand it's concerning.

"George has had a few knocks in the past and you want to make sure a player goes through the right process to make sure that if he does play again, he is fully fit and recovered. And if he does pick up knocks in the future, it needs to be dealt with and he needs to potentially consider what is the best process for him to go through.

"He has stepped down in the past for a lengthy amount of time, and if he does need that again, then it is something people better qualified than me need to consider. I promise you, there will be no pressure from me in terms of getting on the field quickly."