The father of a schools rugby player who died from injuries sustained during a match has reiterated his warning that “concussion can be fatal”.

Peter Robinson spoke to Jonathan Healy on Lunchtime today.

In January 2011, Peter's son Ben played a match for Carrickfergus Grammar School. The Antrim boy was treated three times for blows to the head during the game and sent back to the field on each occasion. Ben, who was 14-years-old at the time, collapsed and later died in hospital.

“The main thing is that concussion can be fatal,” said Peter today. “I think [Ben's death] really tipped the apple cart as such.

“I think we were aware of the problem of concussions coming into the sport, especially grassroots schools.”

Dr Michael Carter, a paediatric neurosurgeon at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, recently wrote that rugby players at underage level could be putting their safety at risk.

Dr Carter’s comments came in a British Medical Journal article and have since been supported by Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, further raising concerns over the safety levels in schools rugby.

“I think if we look back,” continued Peter Robinson, “we’ve moved forward but we’re still a long way to go re understanding the short-term and long-term effects of concussion and concussive-type injuries.”

He added: "Sometimes protecting the product rather than the player seems to get in the way of things."

Listen to Peter Robinson's chat with Jonathan Healy here: