Could NZR's concussion protocols have saved Viliami Halaifonua?

New Zealand Rugby's concussion protocols are about as stringent as they come for sport in this country.
But would they have saved 27-year-old Viliami "Willie" Halaifonua when he collapsed and died after a game in July 2013?

The Takapuna Rugby Club lock clashed with an opposing Massey premier team player in the last 10 minutes of their match, leaving the Massey player semi-conscious but Halaifonua did not appear to have any ill effects.

This was what coroner Brandt Shortland described in his report, released on Tuesday, as the "only obvious point where an injury may have occurred".
"Mr Halaifonua was noted to be prominent in carting the ball up several times in rucks and subsequent mauls," Shortland wrote.

"There was no obvious point in the game where Mr Halaifonua could have been seen to sustain a head injury.  For all intents and purposes his play and response on the field was unremarkable and not unlike many of the other players."

Shortland noted another time in the game when Halaifonua took a heavy fall and landed on his neck and shoulder area, but said he got to his feet quickly and carried on with the game.
"It appeared the fall had no effect," he wrote.

Halaifonua collapsed after the final whistle and never regained consciousness.

Read teh full article @ Rugby Heaven.