Wales star and qualified doctor Jamie Roberts said yesterday that the fall-out from the George North concussion controversy will contribute towards making rugby union a safer sport.

The game’s governing body World Rugby has said Wales wing North should not have remained on the field after a clash of heads with teammate Richard Hibbard during last Friday’s Six Nations clash against England.

But World Rugby added that it accepts the Welsh Rugby Union’s explanation surrounding the incident.

North appeared to suffer a momentary loss of consciousness after the 61st-minute collision with Hibbard. WRU national medical manager Prav Mathema subsequently admitted that had the second incident been seen by medics, then North would have been immediately taken off and replaced.

North left the field in the first-half after receiving an accidental boot to the head from England lock Dave Attwood but was able to continue after treatment.

World Rugby also announced that it will be “immediately investigating, evaluating and promoting the implementation” of new measures.

These are the practicality of television match official technology being expanded to identify head injuries as they happen on the field, all elite competitions being requested to provide pitchside video for medical staff and all elite tournaments encouraged to adopt the Rugby World Cup 2015 player welfare standards.

“It’s unfortunate, that second incident,” said Roberts.

“I think all the protocols have been followed by the WRU medical staff.

“It was unfortunate they didn’t see it happen, the second one.

“Concussion is a huge part of the game at the moment, and hopefully moving forward, the protocols that we put in place — from our side, there will be video replays now for the medical staff at home and away matches — are going to make the game safer for the players involved.