<p>Looks like James Broadhurst is still struggling from a head knock in the ITM Cup</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away</a></p>
<p> </p>
James Broadhurst's concussion headache 'won't go away'
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=""><span>LAURA WALTERS</span></p>
<p class=""><span>Last updated 10:36, February 19 2016</span></p>
</div>
<ul class=""><li> </li>
<li> </li>
</ul><ul class=""><li> </li>
<li> </li>
<li> </li>
<li> </li>
<li><a class="" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away#comments"><span>0</span></a></li>
<li> </li>
</ul></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/9/v/k/m/b/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.19vkp1.png/1455839760785.jpg" title="" alt="1455839760785.jpg"><div><span>Maarten Holl/ Fairfax NZ</span></div>
<div>
<p>Lock James Broadhurst enjoyed a breakout year in New Zealand rugby in 2015 as a key figure in the Hurricanes' Super Rugby campaign.</p>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<p>A Hurricanes player plagued by concussion issues says he's happy with the international safeguards and protocols surrounding the injury. </p>
<p>Lock James Broadhurst has not played, nor even trained properly, since suffering two head knocks playing for Taranaki against Wellington in the first round of last year's national provincial competition. </p>
<p>That was in August and the one-test All Black said he still had a headache that "won't go away".</p>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/9/v/k/o/2/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.19vkp1.png/1455839760785.jpg" title="" alt="1455839760785.jpg"><div><span>SIPHIWE SIBEKO/ REUTERS</span></div>
<div>
<p>James Broadhurst made his test debut for the All Blacks in their 2015 Rugby Championship test against South Africa in Johannesburg.</p>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<p>The 28-year-old said the ongoing effects of his concussion were "extremely frustrating" but he doesn't believe any more could have been done to prevent the injury.</p>
<p><b>READ MORE:<br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/77040872/hurricanes-lock-james-broadhurst-sidelined-by-head-knocks-suffered-last-august'>Head knocks sideline Canes lock Broadhurst</a></b><br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77057894/coach-steve-hansen-confirms-kieran-read-will-be-all-blacks-captain'><b>Hansen confirms 'Reado' as All Blacks captain</b></a><br>
* <b><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77042129/all-blacks-named-halberg-award-winners-after-their-rugby-world-cup-triumph'>All Blacks win Halbergs Supreme Award</a><br>
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77051604/all-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-humbled-to-be-named-coach-of-the-year-at-the-halbergs'>Hansen humbled with Coach of the Year</a><br>
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77054766/steve-hansen-now-5050-on-coaching-all-blacks-to-next-world-cup'>Hansen '50-50' to got to next World Cup</a></b></p>
<div><span></span></div>
<p>At the time of the knock Broadhurst said he didn't display any symptoms of concussion and decided to keep on playing, which was when he received the second hit.</p>
<p>He was taken off at half-time following a medical assessment and wouldn't be returning to the paddock until he was symptom-free.</p>
<p>And at the moment he did not know when that would be.</p>
<p>"How long is a piece of string?"</p>
<div>
<div><a class="" href="http://stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/advertising-feedback/?pos=storybody&adsize=300x250&area=onl.stuff.sport/rugby/superrugby">Ad Feedback </a>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Back in September Broadhurst said he regretted returning to the field after the first knock.</p>
<p>"It's about personal responsibility and in my case I've only got myself to blame."</p>
<p>During Friday's press conference he said hindsight was a wonderful thing.</p>
<p>At the time of the knock everyone had followed international protocols.</p>
<p>"There's really good protocols in place in New Zealand rugby."</p>
<p>However, people needed to be "more vigilant" at lower levels when it came to concussion, Broadhurst said.</p>
<p>"I just think people need to be smarter... I think at the lower levels where those resources aren't around there are probably situations where people could be more vigilant."</p>
<p>Broadhurst said he was trying to do what he could to help the team by participating in line-out training and staying positive.</p>
<p>"There's no point in sitting around, moping about it, it's only gonna be worse for the mental state."</p>
<p>His injury hadn't affected his personal life and he had been told he was likely to make a full recovery. </p>
<p><strong>Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said it was a frustrating setback for Broadhurst and the team but it was unlikely to affect his career in the long-term. </strong></p>
<p>The unknown element of the injury meant all protocols had been strictly adhered to.</p>
<p>"The awareness around concussion is becoming markedly increased," Boyd said.</p>
<p>"You don't muck around with concussion. We'd love to see Broady out there on the field, but fully understand that won't happen until he has satisfied all the criteria set out by the medical staff and that's exactly how it should be," Boyd said.</p>
<p>Hurricanes doctor Theo Dorfling said players needed to be symptom-free for 24 hours before they could participate in any physical activity and only then would they be able to enter a graduated return to play programme.</p>
<p>Hurricanes spokesman Toby Robson said New Zealand Rugby Union has introduced a video box at the halfway point that was monitored by doctors, allowing them to review footage of any knocks, then monitor the player for symptoms. </p>
<p>Broadhurst made his test debut last July, playing against South Africa at Ellis Park.</p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p>
