While a recent study points to a "significant share" of former rugby league players living with a degenerative brain condition, Group 10 Rugby League has put the right protocols in place to make sure the current and future players are well looked after.
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Concussion Legacy Foundation warned that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) would be found in many more ex-NRL players after two deceased first-graders had been found to have suffered from the condition.
Head safety is a current and important issue in all sports, with rules in place to treat incidents of injury and concussion seriously.
- READ MORE: Sport Australia's new concussion protocols
The NRL have concussion rules in place, which are the same ones used by Group 10 Rugby League, the Central West-based competition played in Bathurst, Blayney, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee, Oberon and Orange.
Players who are suspected of having a concussion are to be removed from the game and be assessed by a sports trainer and if it is confirmed they have suffered one, are not permitted to return to the game.
Group 10 secretary Peter McDonald said there hasn't been too many major concussion issues in recent times, however, he said the local players are well aware of the rules.
"We don't have a great deal of issues but our blokes are pretty well refereed by tough referees," he said.
"Group 10 is probably the leaders in Country Rugby League [when it comes to looking after concussed players].
- READ MORE: Dragons prop Graham helps concussion probe
"Going back years ago, when big forwards were playing, there were plenty of [concussions] going on then. It's been wiped out now though, as far as we're concerned."
Bathurst Panthers president Dennis Comerford said the club has unwritten rules at the club which further looks after concussed players.
"An unwritten rule for our club, we make sure players have one week off," he said.
"That basically gives them close on 14 days to recover, with having the following weekend off.
"They also need a medical certificate from the doctor to allow them back on the field.
"Back in my day, which was a long, long time ago, if you were any good at playing football, you stayed out on the field. You didn't get taken off. Obviously there's been a lot of advances in medical practices into that sort of thing and that sort of thing doesn't happen anymore."
Former NRL player Peter Sterling recently said he'll donate his brain to science for research into the effects of concussion, with premiership-winning teammates following his lead to donate their brains as well.
Current St George Illawarra forward James Graham said he'll also donate his brain to science.
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