Friday 3 April 2015 14:59, UK
Dean Ryan is backing a delicate approach to reintroducing Northampton and Wales wing George North to action.
The 22-year-old British & Irish Lion has been concussed three times in the past two months - twice during Wales' 21-16 defeat to England in the Six Nations opener and again in Saints' 52-30 victory over Wasps on March 27.
With former World Rugby medical adviser Dr Barry O'Driscoll recommending North should be rested for the remainder of the season, Northampton confirmed he will sit out the rest of April at least.
Ryan told Sky Sports News HQ of the situation: "The first thing you have to ask is the interests of George. He's had three [concussions] - two in one game and what everyone's got to understand is the more concussions you have, the more likely it is you'll have more.
"You've got to find a period to break that cycle because it's a real concern. I'm sure [Wales head coach] Warren Gatland is watching closely as well because how Northampton manage the next few weeks at the crucial time of the year, they want and need George North but they have to make sure they look after him.
"With a World Cup just around the corner, Wales will be looking very carefully because one more and you're looking at a significant break from the game to ensure that George is healthy. That has to sit in the middle of everything.
With a World Cup just around the corner, Wales will be looking very carefully because one more and you're looking at a significant break from the game to ensure that George is healthy.
"I'm 100 per cent sure that Northampton are acting in the right interests. A month is about the right time and it removes the pressure on the games that are going on and they'll hopefully evaluate George at the end of that."
Northampton face a daunting European Champions Cup quarter-final trip to Clermont without North - but Ryan believes the Premiership side have a chance of upsetting the odds on Saturday - in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Ryan said: "I think it's toughest to go to the Stade Marcel Michelin - they're 22 games in Europe unbeaten. Northampton are the top team in England and they've got the likes of Courtney Lawes. They're in great form themselves.
"This is the real deal. It's a big crunch. It's difficult because you look at Clermont's record and then you see they lost against Stade Francais last week and there's no Morgan Parra - he's central to the whole thing. If Lawes and Manoa get them moving, they could get something."
Watch Clermont Auvergne v Northampton, Saturday 5.15pm, Sky Sports 2
