Townsend Clarifies Why Russell Did Not Return To Action Despite Passing HIA

February 10, 2025

Ireland defeated Scotland 32-18 yesterday in what was a frankly one-sided Six Nations affair in Murrayfield.

While it had been hotly billed as a potential clash of the tournament, Scotland’s loss of key playmakers Darcy Graham and Finn Russell at the end of the first quarter removed any glimmers of competition that existed in the game.

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The unfortunate incident occurred just after the twentieth minute when James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park were firing towards the Scottish line and both Russell and Darcy clashed heads as they scrambled back in defence.
Darcy’s condition looked the more serious of the two, with the back spending quite some time on the ground before being stretchered off. Russell wasn’t unharmed either however, slowly leaving the field on his own two feet for a head injury assessment.
While the initial word from the commentary gallery suggested that Russell had passed his HIA and would return to action, down on the bench the Maverick outhalf’s actions were telling an entirely different story as he disappeared back down the tunnel under the stewardship of Scottish medical staff for a second time.
9 February 2025; Finn Russell of Scotland receives medical treatment before leaving the pitch for a HIA during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Scotland and Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

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Townsend clarifies decision not to put Finn Russell back on

Despite the in-game confusion, speaking after Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend delivered a commendable explanation for why his side’s marquee player never returned to action despite passing the HIA.

Finn (is) fine, he actually passed his HIA but our staff sensed he wasn’t totally aware of what was going on, so we made the call to not put him back on.

It was more communication that (coach) Pete Horne and a couple of other guys on the sideline were having with him.

We decided it wasn’t right. He had passed his HIA, but there were a couple of things he wasn’t remembering about plays. So we made the call not to put him back on.

In such a big game, Townsend and his Scotland coaching side deserve immeasurable praise for the bold call to remove their most influential player from action despite being cleared medically fit by the independent doctors in situ.

Townsend also provided an update on Darcy Graham after the match, revealing that he’d been admitted to hospital after the collision.

Darcy is at the hospital now, I’ve not had an update. I think everything was OK with his neck but they were checking out concussion.

I’m just hoping there are no broken bones around the face or skull area. He’s failed his HIA.

While the Scottish Rugby Union later revealed that Graham had been released from hospital both he and Russell now look set to miss Scotland’s Calcutta Cup clash with England in a fortnight as they undergo concussion return-to-play protocols over the coming days and weeks.