to Curry says concussion is an occupational hazard after thinking about being under three England players who also completed their summer tour of . have seen Australia broken by head injury.
Curry returned home early due to damage sustained in the first Test and a match later he was joined by Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje, who were ruled out of the Sydney decider for the same reason.
The all-action Sale winger is confident he will retire with his long-term health unscathed due to the steps rugby has taken to mitigate the impact of a concussion.
But the sport continues to unfold amid a lawsuit filed against the game’s governing bodies by more 185 former players, many of whom have been diagnosed with incipient dementia and other irreversible neurological disorders.
“Rugby is a contact sport. You work on your tackle technique, you try to get it right, but in the end it’s very different every time you do it,” said Curry.
A new protocol was introduced in July stating that any player with a history of concussion or who is removed from a match with obvious concussion symptoms must sit for at least the next 12 days instead of undergoing a seven-day HIA trial.
“Rugby gets a better spot with research and what’s going on,” Curry said.
“I’m completely confident in my long-term health. I’ll let the scientists take care of that and let’s get started and play rugby.
“If the research supports the change of protocols, I’m all for it. Ultimately, my job is to play rugby.
“That’s what I’m focusing on and if something comes out that will help players brilliantly in the long run, it can only be positive.”
As one of England’s most effective roadside workers, Curry’s ability to get over the ball puts him at risk for a reckless cleanup, but the 24-year-old shrugs off this worry – even if raised by his mother.
Jackling’s viability is an ongoing debate amid fears it’s dangerous and Curry said, “My mom often says that!
“It’s rugby and you can’t change it – that’s the sport we love. The only complicated thing is when people roll in and move around.
“It’s rugby and you have people running up to you, but I’ve never felt vulnerable. We’re well protected, especially with the new laws.
“Look at two or three years ago, when you had to win the game against clearers and survive the clearing. Rugby has made huge strides forward.
“We can always say this or that would be better, but from where we started to where we are now, we’ve come a long way in player safety.”
England left Australia with a hard-fought 2-1 win in the series and the focus is now on the fall starting against Argentina on November 6.
On Sunday, they met in south-west London for the first time since sending the Wallabies and their training camp continued with a trip to Thorpe Park Resort, where they completed an inflatable assault course.
“We didn’t do the rides – unfortunately and much to everyone’s disappointment! We fell off the assault course a bit, but it was good to get everyone together,” said Curry.
Additional reporting from PA