|What is concussion?|
|Around the Academy:
Wales rugby player Alix Popham is nursing a sore head after being knocked unconscious during his team's match against South Africa.
The No.8 had to be stretchered off the pitch and spent the night in hospital.
Luckily Popham escaped serious injury thanks to the quick-thinking of team-mate Ceri Sweeney who stopped him swallowing his tongue.
Head injuries can occur in all sports and must be treated seriously. Check out our guide below.
Popham was left out cold after falling awkwardly during a tackle.
This may cause a tearing or twisting of the structures and blood vessels of the brain, which results in a breakdown of the normal flow of messages within the brain.
Severe concussion: if unconscious then check air passage is free and call trained first aider to the scene. A brain scan in hospital may be advisable.
In more serious cases it can be over a week before full recovery.
Professional rugby players are not allowed play for three weeks after sustaining concussion.
Post-concussion syndrome can kick in after weeks and months if proper treatment was not given at the time of the original injury.