CLUBS in the Aviva Premiership might need bigger squads to cope with the impact of the sport’s player concussion protocols.

That’s the view from Worcester Warriors head coach Carl Hogg who admits the competitiveness in training is often lower due to missing players.

While Hogg fully supports the need for player safety, he says “limited numbers who are fit and available” make training more challenging.

Rugby union chiefs are taking concussion seriously and trying to safeguard the short and long-term health and welfare of players.

Most concussions are resolved within a seven to 10-day period but a player’s brain is more vulnerable to further injury if they return to action too swiftly.

Warriors skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been out for more than three months after taking a blow to the head in their opening-day 35-3 defeat to Saracens.

Former Worcester captain Jonathan Thomas, now a defence coach at Bristol, retired in September 2015 due to epilepsy brought on by head injuries.

Hogg said: “It used to be a six or seven-day turnaround for players but the stand-down periods for concussion are going to be longer due to player welfare and quite rightly so.

“We have to look after players. A player’s health is paramount but longer breaks are going to be a lot more common.

"That applies throughout the Premiership and other competitions.”

The earliest an adult can return to action after a head injury is six days which extends to 12 for players between under 17 and 19 age group level.

Teenage fly-half Jamie Shillcock took a blow to the head in the defeat at Bristol on Boxing Day and missed their 24-17 win against Harlequins with concussion.

Hogg added: “When you have limited numbers fit and available it does have an impact on your ability to train.

“You want to create a very healthy, competitive environment from Monday to Friday with players going up against each other, fighting for jerseys and starting spots.

“But when you have got some injuries that becomes more problematic because you are after 30 to 35 players to go hammer and tongs in training to compete.”