Anger is so high within the Queensland Reds at no action being taken over the incident which left lock Connor Vest with a broken neck that an official complaint is being lodged.
The Rugby Union Players’ Association has become involved with Reds representative Fraser McReight formally notifying RUPA boss Justin Harrison of the team’s displeasure.
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The fallout follows the disturbing situation which unfolded in Dunedin last Friday night when Vest lay prone during the Reds-Highlanders match.
The Reds’ notification embraces multiple points around player welfare.
Firstly, that SANZAAR felt no citing was warranted around the contact that jolted Vest’s head and, secondly, that he appeared to be hurried off the field even though a neck injury had been signaled.
He walked off but was later stretchered in an ambulance to Dunedin Hospital where a CT scan revealed a fracture of his C7 vertebrae.
Fortunately, Vest was judged fit to fly home to Brisbane on Sunday, a day after the rest of the team following the 35-30 loss.
“Everyone was quite worried but Connor has returned to Australia and we believe he’s avoided surgery which is really great news for him and his family,” Reds No.8 Harry Wilson said on Monday.
Wilson said the incident had left the Reds frustrated and hoping there was an avenue to have the contact incident re-assessed.
“For us as a playing group, we hope so. Rugby has been really big on player welfare the past few years,” Wilson said.
“For us there wasn’t much player welfare there with a no-arms tackle on his legs and a shoulder, with no arms, to the head.
“That’s not ideal. Vesty broke his neck. For me, that’s pretty ridiculous (that there’s no examination of the case). As a playing group, we were very frustrated with the referee trying to rush him off the field.
“We thought it was pretty disrespectful to a player, who was found to have a broken neck. He was being told to get off the field as if he was wasting time.
“As a playing group, we weren’t too happy. He was lying down for quite a while and they (the medical staff) had him in all the positions. There seemed to be a lot of external pressures to get him off the field and he walked off. You don’t know what extra damage that can do.”
Vest ran low and hard at the 29-minute mark in Dunedin. Footage of the game shows a Highlanders player going low himself and meeting the Reds lock with a shoulder to the head.
“We are entering very dangerous territory of placing the onus on the ball-carrier to mitigate against tackles where direct head contact, no arms and force apply,” said Sam Cordingley, the Queensland Rugby Union’s General Manager, Professional Rugby.
Post-match, SANZAAR judged no action was warranted on that moment or the Freddie Burns’ shoulder-contact that stung Reds centre James O’Connor on the jaw as he released a super inside ball during a brilliant 95m Reds try. A third incident, where a Highlanders player’s knees made contact with Liam Wright’s back after he scored a try, was also not progressed.
“Thankfully, James was OK there. That was another one we found very hard to comprehend as a playing group,” Wilson said.
“James copped a shoulder to the head against Chiefs, was concussed and missed a week. His first game back and he gets another shoulder to the head,” Wilson said.
“As a playing group, we’re contacting our players’ union because we want it to be even. World Rugby has been really big on stamping stuff out of the game with cards and discipline but this season, game after game, boys seem to be shouldered to the head.
“If nothing is going to be done about it, we’re going to try to do something about it ourselves. We want our best playing week in, week out.”
The seventh-placed Reds face the Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday. A win would guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals of Super Rugby Pacific but a loss would leave them outside the play-offs or at the mercy of a bonus-points miracle.
“It’s a big test. It’s like a quarter-final a week early,” Wilson added.
“We know the Fijians can blow you away in front of their home fans so we have to play really smart, kick well, use our set piece and hopefully get a fast start like we did in Dunedin.”
Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott has ticked the initial boxes of his return to play protocols following his head knock in Dunedin and is some chance of playing.
Co-captain Wright is out for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a dislocated shoulder.
