'I cheated head-injury assessment to play on in 2017 Lions Test'

'I cheated HIA process to play on in 2017 Lions Test' By Mike Henson BBC Sport rugby union news reporter Published 52 minutes ago Former British and Irish Lions wing Anthony Watson says he cheated a head-injury assessment to get back on the pitch after Sonny Bill Williams' infamous high tackle in the second Test of the 2017 series in New Zealand. Williams was shown a 25th-minute red card after driving a straight shoulder into Watson's head as the wing gathered a loose ball and attempted to run upfield. Watson says he had previously committed a series of five words to memory to help him pass a part of the head-injury assessment when players are tested on their recall. "I knew the impact was big and as I got in to do the protocol I was starting to feel a bit hazy," Watson recalled in an interview with a new BBC documentary - Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby? "I just want to caveat this by saying that I love the medical staff there at the Lions and they had no idea I was doing this. "At that stage I knew the protocols - they give you five words to remember so it is 'elbow-apple-carpet-saddle-bubble'. That is what I had. "I managed to get through the walking tests and all of that and then when it came to the words, I knew it off by heart so I knew I was going to get straight back on." Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby? Watch on iPlayer Watson had appeared unsteady in the aftermath of the collision, failing in an initial attempt to stand from a kneeling position. Jack Nowell replaced Watson as he was assessed for signs of concussion, but six minutes later, Watson jogged back on to the pitch and proceeded to play the remainder of the Lions' 24-21 win. Watson also played 72 minutes of the drawn series decider at Eden Park seven days later. The recall element of the head injury assessment has since changed. Instead of being asked to recall a set list of five words, with results compared to a baseline set when unimpaired at the start of the season, a rando...