Aviva Premiership
Saracens step up concussion prevention
ESPN Staff
January 4, 2015
Saracens' Chris Wyles sports one of the monitors © Getty Images
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Saracens have stepped up their concussion awareness programme with players now wearing sensors that monitor the impact forces experienced during a match.

The sensors are similar to those sported by some teams in the NFL and are positioned just behind the ear. The gadgets measure the force and direction of impact forces with the data downloaded after the match. The hope is that later in 2015, the sensors will provide real-time data.

"We're collecting data because we want answers," Saracens CEO Ed Griffiths said. "In simple terms, we don't want to meet our players in 20 or 25 years' time, to find them suffering from dementia or any similar condition, and to reflect we suspected something was going on but we didn't really know. We want to know."

He added: "We aspire to be a club that genuinely looks after its players, and nothing is more important than their medium and long term welfare. At Saracens, we feel obliged to ask these questions without delay and to seek answers, however uncomfortable they may be. The findings will be reported in due course."

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