A WEE COUNTY school has become one of the first in the country to support sportscotland's guidelines aimed at preventing concussions.

Dollar Academy has not only adopted the national agency's advice, but has also included their 'If in doubt, sit them out' logo on their First XV rugby strips.

It forms part of the measures the school has recently taken to improve awareness and treatment of sports injuries.

Don Caskie, the school's head of rugby, said: "Player welfare is the single most important factor that underpins the whole rugby programme here at Dollar.

"We have a responsibility to create the safest player environment possible, from coaching correct technique, providing first class pitch side care, injury monitoring and managing the rehabilitation and recovery process.

"By following these guidelines and spreading this important message, we can help to ensure Dollar pupils have long and safe careers both at school and beyond."

The move was welcomed by John Barclay, an Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland international player who was educated at Dollar Academy and previously captained the school's First XV rugby team.

He added: "Throughout my professional career, I've witnessed the importance of rest and rehabilitation after a concussion so it's amazing to hear that Dollar Academy has embraced the 'If it in doubt, sit them out' guidelines.

"When pupils are performing at a high level there is a temptation to push through injuries to get a win at all costs.

"With attitudes like this prominent in contact sport, it is so important that coaches follow Dollar's lead and take responsibility for player welfare."

Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce uniform head injury guidelines that cover a wide range of sports.

Jonathan Hanson, a physician at sportscotland, said: "We still know relatively little about concussion so, whilst research is ongoing, it is so important that organisations such as Dollar Academy take up this initiative.

"It promotes accurate, early management of head injuries.

"This is especially important in school environments because young adults with concussion need to be handled more conservatively than adults as their brains are still developing."