Shute Shield leading the way in rugby concussion study

Randwick Rugby Club will lead the way in Australian sport using in-game concussion testing and monitoring, during the Shute Shield, which kicks off this weekend.

Randwick players will wear an 'X-Patch' biosensor which is about the size of a 10-cent piece, placed behind the ear, to record impact levels during contact in both G forces and rotational force.

Dr Adrian Cohen, an expert in neck and head injuries says the device will provide a greater understanding of what the body goes through under high impact situations in sport.

"We need to understand what impacts are involved, what forces are transmitted to the head – both in 'G force' and in rotational force as well, which caused the damage," Cohen said in his address at the Randwick Rugby club's season launch this week.

"One of the things that interested me was the role of technology and actually getting some objectivity into what is going on.

"A lot of these things are subjective, 'did you see the hit? Was it a big hit? How is he playing? How is he feeling?'"

MORE: Concussion rules out SBW for Chiefs
MORE: Shute Shield on Seven Network in NSW in 2015

Whilst Randwick are leading the way in Australia, the technology has already been adopted in the England by Saracens rugby club. In the USA, the National Football League is taking major strides in concussion assessment and research, especially given the recent retirement of San Francisco 49ers rookie Chris Borland, who cited concerns over concussions as the major reason for him leaving the sport at age 24.

The major leagues of baseball, hockey, soccer and lacrosse have also adopted the technology.

MORE: NFL rookie retires at age 24 due to concussion fears

Randwick first used the biosensor in a trial match against Manly last week and will continue to use the technology throughout the Shute Shield season, to gather as much information as possible.

Dr Cohen went on to explain that the information can be analysed in combination with video and GPS technology "so we can see what is going on and get a firm understanding of the things that lead to injury and what we can do".