Headway is deeply concerned about the handling of Eliesa Katoa’s head knocks at the Pacific Championships at Eden Park on Sunday evening.

In the pre-game warm up, Eliesa Katoa and a teammate got into an accidental collision, which resulted in Katoa looking visibly dazed. Rather than following the evidence-based approach to remove the person from activity, he was allowed to start the game. He then had two further head knocks, which resulted in a serious medical episode.

“The science is clear - repeated head injuries within a short time frame can have devastating, lifelong consequences,” says Stacey Mowbray, CE, Headway. “This is why concussion education is vital. Recognising concussion symptoms and removing immediately is how we protect our community and our players.”

Head Injury Assessments (HIAs) provide an important safeguard within elite-level environments but only during the official period of play. However, the vast majority of New Zealanders - children, teenagers, adults, weekend athletes, and families - do not have access to sideline doctors, independent assessors, or structured concussion protocols such as HIAs.

“Concussion doesn’t wait for referees, stadium lights, or medical teams,” says Mowbray. “It can happen anywhere: at training, in community sport, at school, at home, and at work.”

Headway emphasises that recognition and removal remain the most powerful tools currently available in protecting people after a suspected concussion. If someone takes a knock to the head or a hit to the body that rattles the brain, they must be removed from play or activity immediately.

“This isn’t just about one incident - it’s about changing the culture of all sport at all levels to prioritise brain health,” added Mowbray. “We owe it to every athlete, at every level, to protect their future beyond the game.”

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