Gppfeffi,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

It appears your school/team/club does not follow any concussion/return to play protocols. So, the simplest part of return to play protocols is: You should never return to play or practice a contact sport if you are experiencing any symptoms, at all. If you do not feel yourself, you are still experiencing symptoms.

I seriously doubt this was the first and second concussions you have suffered. They are just the first concussions that you did not recover from quickly. Any time you suffer a head impact where you get any level of dazed feeling, feel like you got punched in the nose, taste a metallic taste in your mouth, need a moment to focus your eyes, etc. is a concussion, even if it did not cause you to interrupt your play.

Statistics show that the incidence of concussions in rugby are as high as in American football, if not higher. Then, there is the cumulative injury from the sub-concussive impacts that happen many times in a game.

And yes, tinnitus is common and may get better or you may experience it for months or years. My ears ring like a bell. Have for 15 years.

So, take a break from alcohol and all intoxicants and minimize caffeine to a serving a day. Slow down your daily life to give your brain a rest and read the sticky at the top called Vitamins. It has lots of information.