sakes of seeking treatment and the participant should take som

Highlanders try-scoring machine Waisake Naholo is behind schedule in his recovery from a leg fracture and may not return for the Super Rugby champions for at least another two weeks. The Highlanders had hoped the Fiji-born winger would be ready to play against South Africas Sharks in Dunedin on Friday but assistant coach Tony Brown told local media that Naholo was still some way off full contact training.We havent really made a plan for Waisake yet. Were getting him back running, hes doing that at the moment, Brown said. Once he can take a bit of contact, well make a plan for him. The 24-year-old scored a franchise record 13 tries last season to earn selection for the All Blacks World Cup-winning squad but was injured in the opening round this year against the Auckland Blues.The Highlanders (5-2), who suffered a shock loss to Australias lowly Queensland Reds in their last start, face a tough run of matches against the ACT Brumbies and Waikato Chiefs after the Sharks match and are keen to get the winger back.On a positive note, co-captain Ben Smith is expected to return from the head knock that forced the All Blacks fullback to miss the Reds match.Watch the Highlanders take on the Sharks this Friday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8.30am.By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: Rebel Shipperley out for season Team of the week Rugby on Sky Follow us @SkySportsRugby Dries Mertens Belgium Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Youri Tielemans Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Yannick-Carrasco-Belgium-Jersey/ . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Axel Witsel Belgium Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Kevin De Bruyne Belgium Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a time when drivers raced injured, when nothing could get them to climb out of their seat.The rules didnt allow racers to be hurt, sitting out a week would be catastrophic in the point standings, and, ultimately, the payout. Not being able to drive with broken bones, blisters, burns, illness, any ailment at all, could derail a season. Even worse, it could cost a driver his job.So its a testament to NASCAR that Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt strong enough last week to take himself out of his car because he couldnt shake symptoms that could be concussion-related. NASCARs most popular driver benched himself for Sundays race at New Hampshire and he will await further tests to see if hes able to drive this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Earnhardt said hes battling balance issues and nausea and is uncertain when he will be back in a race car.My mind feels real sharp, he said in a podcast recorded Sunday night. Ive struggled with my balance over the last four, five days and I definitely wouldnt be able to drive a race car (last weekend). Making the right decision was out of the question, I made the decision I had to make. Its just going to take a lot of patience.Tales of drivers racing hurt date back to the beginning of nearly every series. On the same day Earnhardt was watching someone else drive his car in New Hampshire, IndyCar ace Josef Newgarden was powering through on the street course at Toronto with a broken hand. When he wrecked late in the race, his in-car camera caught Newgarden in serious pain and favoring his broken hand.Dont forget when Ricky Rudd raced with his swollen eyes taped open in the Daytona 500 or Richard Petty driving for weeks with a severe neck injury or the late Dale Earnhardt winning the pole at Watkins Glen with a broken collarbone. More recently, Denny Hamlin twice raced immediately after tearing the ACL in one of his knees and Brad Keselowski won at Pocono a week after breaking his foot.About 15 years ago, Earnhardt Jr. revealed in an interview that he thought hed driven with concussion symptoms several times in 2001. His admission led to a tightened medical review policy in which Earnhardt had to be seen by a doctor before he could race after he was briefly knocked unconscious in a 2002 crash at Dover.As the years went on, Earnhardt became smarter about his health. He missed two races during the 2012 Chase because of a pair of concussions suffered in a six-race stretch, and sitting out those events immediately ended any title shot.Dashed championship hopes would still be the case for any driver injured during NASCARs 10-race playoffs, but the sanctioning body has made it easier for drivers to admit they are hurt. By allowing teams to apply for a waiver so the driver will still be eligible to make the playoffs, NASCAR made it possibble for Earnhardt to take himself out of the car.ddddddddddddGranted, playoff hopes shouldnt trump health issues -- especially concussions, something that could cause long-term damage -- but this very small step has given flexibility in a system that previously had none.Team owner Rick Hendrick made it clear he doesnt want a driver to sacrifice his health to stay in the race car.Our guys know that the most important thing is their health, and if theyre in an accident and they feel like theyve had a concussion, theres a protocol and they need to go through it, Hendrick said before Sundays race. Its hard to get out of the car, but we want (Earnhardt) for the long haul. He wants to race for a long time, so we are going to let the doctors make those decisions.Its really hard at first, and then the more you think about it, its the right thing to do for him and its the right thing to do for the team. We will just take it day-by-day.Its not clear when Earnhardt was injured -- he was in crashes at Michigan on June 12 and Daytona on July 2 -- and his symptoms originally led Earnhardt to believe his problem was allergy or sinus related. So he raced at Kentucky two weeks ago not feeling well, and when it didnt improve, he saw a neurological specialist who diagnosed concussion-like symptoms.It could be argued that based on Earnhardts concussion history, NASCAR should have had him tested after one or both of his accidents. But, NASCAR has made it easier than ever for a driver to lessen the stakes of seeking treatment and the participant should take some responsibility for their own health.That doesnt make any easier for drivers, particularly those who grew up watching a generation that drove hurt.Its probably one of the toughest things to do -- if I was in that position, it would be very tough for me, I would think, said Ryan Newman.Carl Edwards noted that Earnhardts issue must be serious if he didnt race and said he respected Earnhardts decision.I cant imagine how tough that decision would be, he said. Right now with the format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship.In the end, Earnhardt did the very best thing he could to help himself. He may also end up being the example for all drivers to put their health above everything else in racing.Earnhardt, who noted in his podcast that his most recent ImPACT test matched his preseason baseline test, will now follow a treatment laid out by his doctors that includes exercises to retrain his brain.I put my health and quality of life as a top priority, he said. I always do that, so I am going to take this slow and follow the advice of my doctors. ' ' '