Six Nations 2021: French doctor apologises to Johnny Sexton after 'inaccurate' concussion claims

Sexton had a head injury assessment after Ireland's defeat by Wales, having been removed following a head collision

A French neurologist has apologised to Johnny Sexton after speculating over the Ireland captain's history of concussion.

Dr Jean-Francois Chermann, who ordered Sexton to be stood down for 12 weeks in 2014 while playing for Racing 92, initially told French broadcaster RMC Sport he believed the fly-half had sustained as many as 30 concussions during his career.

However he retracted the comments after Sexton described them as "inaccurate and highly inappropriate".

The Ireland captain - whose side host France in the Six Nations on Sunday - is going through return-to-play protocols.

He was taken off following a clash of heads in the second half of last Sunday's defeat by Wales, after which he received a head injury assessment.

Should he pass the next stage of the process, he will be allowed to take part in non-contact training with the team on Thursday, before returning to full-contact training if he receives approval on Friday.

"As regards Sexton, we cannot say for certain that he has had 30 concussions," Dr Chermann said on Wednesday afternoon.

"I should never have cited this figure without any explanation and I regret the wrong I have done to the player who was my patient and who I respect more than anyone.

"In my neurological experience of treating more than 1,500 athletes who have suffered concussion, the pivotal elements ruling out a return to action are: the fact of having suffered concussions close together in terms of time, that a previous concussion has taken time to be shaken off (several weeks) and the fact that the player is under 20 years old because there exists a serious risk of suffering an after shock.

"To be clear, if Sexton has not suffered from a concussion for a year, that he is asymptomatic after 48 hours, that the tests carried out are good and that the return-to-play protocol has been carried out properly, then there is nothing to stop him from playing against France."

What was said?

Dr Chermann worked with Sexton during the fly-half's two-year spell with Racing, and recommended the three-month break in 2014 after Sexton sustained a series of head injuries in a short space of time.

"The doctor's part, fundamental to this story, is... if there are symptoms, if his tests are disturbed, the doctor must stop him from playing on Sunday," Dr Chermann said on Tuesday.

"Conversely, if there are no symptoms, if the tests are perfect, the fact that he has had many concussions before is a problem. But I think we do not have enough obvious elements to prevent him from continuing his rugby career."

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Sexton said he was "shocked and saddened" by Dr Chermann's comments.

"I just think it's totally inappropriate that a doctor who I last saw many years ago now felt it was appropriate to come out and talk to whoever it was and say those things," Sexton said.

Sexton played for Racing 92 between 2013 and 2015 before returning to Leinster

"I'm pretty disappointed but I'm so used to it that it's sort of like water off a duck's back - but for my wife and mum, it's very upsetting but that's the world we live in.

"I thought there was patient-doctor confidentiality; I'm pretty sure that exists in the world.

"I just can't get over the fact that someone thought it was appropriate to just come out of nowhere and start saying things that weren't even accurate, that's the most hurtful thing.

"We've been here before and could sit here talking about it for 20 minutes, but I'm never going to win out of it.

"Last time I did it, this has happened twice before, I tried to give facts and defend myself and I'm in the papers for being selfish and not looking after younger players going through the system."

'Sometimes it can wear you down'

Having endured a generally disappointing spell in French club rugby, Sexton often becomes the focal point of the build-up to Ireland and France's annual Six Nations meeting.

Should Sexton fail the return-to-play protocols, head coach Andy Farrell will call upon either Billy Burns or Ross Byrne to fill in for the captain.

"It seems to be always the French game coming up where something happens, either before or after," Sexton said.

"You get used to dealing with these type of things when you're captain of your country.

"It's a privileged position to be in. Sometimes it can wear down on you and you need to be reminded that there's a lot of people that would swap in for your job, so try to enjoy it."

Having lost to Wales, Ireland's hopes of winning the tournament realistically require them to win their four remaining games.

France dismantled Italy in their opening Six Nations game and come to Dublin as favourites to win this year's competition.