George North out of quarter-final against Clermont
ESPN Staff
April 1, 2015
George North receives treatment on the pitch after being knocked out
George North receives treatment on the pitch after being knocked out© Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Northampton will be without George North for Saturday's European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final at Clermont Auvergne.

North was forced off in the first-half of last Friday's match against Wasps after suffering a bang to the head, his third in eight weeks. Saints boss Jim Mallinder said: "We won't play him at the weekend

"Clearly he had a nasty knock. He did get knocked unconscious for a very short period of time. Thankfully he was well looked after, he came round very quickly and has had no real bad adverse after-effects. But even so, we won't play him this weekend.

"He's making good progress. He's improving and down there at the moment going to see a neurologist and we'll wait to see what the experts say.

"We've got to make sure the medical experts are happy and satisfied that he is fit to return to play and as soon as they say he is, then we'll be happy to pick him again."

Various figures from the world of rugby have called for North to sit out the rest of the season and Mallinder will prioritise North's well being.

"There's been lots of opinion," Mallinder said. "We've got to be careful that we don't blow anything out of proportion. It's a tough game, (but) player welfare will always come first."

© ESPN Staff

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