Archive August 6, 2025

Rugby’s authorities aren’t making any immediate moves to outlaw “smelling salts” due to concerns that they might mask concussion symptoms.

Smelling salts, a strong combination of ammonia, water, and ethanol, are claimed to boost mental clarity or boost energy.

According to one study, irritating the nose and lungs caused a sharp breath intake and a quick flow of oxygen to the brain.

However, the NFL cautioned against smelling salts in a memo to their teams that was obtained by the Associated Press and contained additional “possible signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.”

In elite rugby dressing rooms, they are frequently used.

Tadhg Beirne, the flanker for the first British and Irish Lions’ Test against Australia last month, was shown smoking salts as the rest of the team gathered together at half-time.

On the team’s social media pages, a video of him using smelling salts and his teammate Jack Conan reacting was posted.

The panel of concussion experts’ meeting in September will likely take up the matter, but there is no intention of meeting to discuss smelling salts.

With the addition of instrumented mouthguards that trigger an alert, a mandatory check when a collision exceeds a certain level of force, and pitchside doctors monitoring incident video, World Rugby has improved diagnosing concussion in the elite game.

In cases where it’s unclear whether a player has a concussion or is able to play again, a battery of physical and memory tests is used to determine whether a player has a concussion.

Before the assessment, players are not subject to any specific rules regarding how to use smelling salts. An independent doctor reviews the results and the symptoms of the players, though.

While a group of former rugby players have sued the organization for inadequate protection from a brain injury, there is a growing awareness of concussion and its dangers among the current players.

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn has been signed by Nottingham Forest for a one-year deal.

Gunn made 35 Championship starts for Norwich City last season before leaving the Canaries when his contract expired in May.

The 29-year-old started his career at Norwich before moving to Manchester City, where he signed his first professional contract in 2013.

He made 172 appearances for the Canaries over the course of two seasons before leaving for Norwich three years later.

I’m looking forward to joining Forest and getting to work because it’s a historic club on an exciting journey, said Gunn.

“I’m joining a good group of keepers, and I think my experience will benefit the team.” He continued, “I can’t wait to get going.”

Scotland have 16 caps under their belts, and Gunn started all three of their group games at Euro 2024 last year.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea has been signed for around £28 million by Everton.

The 26-year-old’s initial cost is £24 million, with additional costs of £3-4 million due in additions.

Dewsbury-Hall has agreed to stay with the Toffees for five years until June 30, 2030.

Following the signings of Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers, and Adam Aznou, the Leicester City graduate is Everton’s fifth summer signing.

My family and I are both excited, to be honest. This is creating real buzz. Dewsbury-Hall responded, “It feels right for me.”

Dewsbury-Hall made a good match for Maresca’s Chelsea system, but he didn’t play a half-part because Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Enzo Fernandez all started in front of him in the midfield pecking order.

Dewsbury-Hall scored four goals in the Uefa Conference League and came off the bench to give Jadon Sancho the lead in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the May final despite only starting twice in the Premier League in his sole season at Chelsea.

He made his fifth goal for the club in the team’s 4-1 victory over Benfica and made his debut in the team’s 3-0 victory over Paris St-Germain. He was mostly used as a substitute in the Fifa Club World Cup.

When given a chance, he did well for the Stamford Bridge side, but he soon started to do so after being a regular player who moved in and then dropped.

Due to Uefa’s recent punishment for financial control violations, Chelsea must sell players from their most recent Conference League team to maintain a “positive transfer balance” this summer, which is particularly important.

The addition of Dewsbury-Hall would give their midfield much-needed depth and quality, according to Everton manager David Moyes, who has been vocal about his need for fresh faces this summer.

Chelsea’s successful Conference League campaign saw the 26-year-old play a constant role, but ultimately struggled to make his way into the Premier League.

He started for the Blues in the top two spots, and his total playing time for 13 league games was only 256.

Moyes will find Dewsbury-Hall’s performances during Leicester’s 2023-24 promotion campaign particularly interesting because they will replace Abdoulaye Doucoure’s significant central attacking contributions.