International referee Nigel Owens has called for more preventative measures to be put in place to halt serious injuries in rugby union.

Owens was speaking after George North was advised by a neurologist to take a one-month break from rugby following a number of recent head injuries.

"It is a contact game and unfortunately some serious injuries happen," Owens told BBC Radio 5 live. "We need to do everything we can to make them happen less often.

"You could make it compulsory that every player has to wear a head-guard. I do not think that would stop every concussion but it would give you safety regarding it. The other thing is getting the tackling technique correct, putting the head in the right place, make it as safe as you possibly can.

"But would they work? I don't know. I'm not sure what we can change in the laws of game that would make it safer, apart from taking the head collision away somehow."

Owens has been an international referee since 2005 and is widely regarded as one of the best in the game.