Warm up rugby skills. The main reason rugby players have a relatively low risk of injury compared to football players is paradoxical - rugby players don’t wear protective equipment. Senior Men; Senior Women; Events. Why rugby is a safe sport - paradoxically . The effects have trickled down to schoolboy level. But prevention requires radical changes to the laws of the game. The ACC has a statutory duty to prevent injury, which means it must monitor injuries and work on prevention strategies with relevant parties. James, meanwhile, stands behind the posts furiously scribbling on a pad. However, we cannot guarantee that the site is a scam. “It’s not that it might happen again, but purely because I’d be so proud of what he has gone through and has been able to achieve. Over 50% of these injuries are classed as minimal or mild and result in no missed games. RugbySafe shows you how to position player welfare at the heart of the game so that rugby is played in a safe and enjoyable environment. I know that run hurt him, every step of the way it hurt. To achieve Rugby Australia's Vision, Rugby must be as safe, inclusive and fair as possible. He said that it felt like there was a piece of thick paper between my hand and his face. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 126,000 academics and researchers from 4,001 institutions. ?”Is rugby safe for children to play?” was a headline that caught my eye this week. And I just think boys are boys. Rugby is facing a massive catch-22 in its quest to both satisfy the drive to make the game fairer and safer, while also halting the declining interest in the sport by making it more entertaining and watchable. Again, rugby has not been studied as extensively as other sports. In hospital he read Rugby World magazine obsessively and downloaded the sport’s rules on to an iPad in case he wanted to be a referee one day. This last incident left his eye hanging down out of its socket and he was forced to drink meals through a straw. But is it safe? The head/face accounts for 14-27% of all injuries. She reads: “The look in his eyes was as much as we could take…” Pollock sighs: “Oh, that’s really desperate.” There was also the case of 10-year-old Curtis Elton, a talented pianist whose hands have been insured. International players today weigh, on average, 10% more than they did in 2000 and have improved their time for the 10m sprint by 5%. Special effect make-up by Hannah Phillips. Hendricks S, O'Connor S, Lambert M, Brown J, Burger N, Mc Fie S, et al. There are also numerous clubs that offer rugby training for boys and girls from the ages of 7 onwards. Rugby 15s. Posted: November 21, 2011 in Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, News. He’s right – something I’d totally overlooked. The health and safety of every player across the country is of paramount importance and Rugby Canada strives to ensure a safe playing environment at all levels. She called 76 parents and pupils, all in their final year at her son’s school, and asked what injuries the boys had experienced during their short rugby careers and exactly how they had occurred. But is it safe for kids to play such a physical game? “Children start playing contact rugby when they are in the under nine squad, which usually means they are eight years old from September 1, but it is a highly skilled contact sport and with the correct coaching and application of the law, it is a safe game,” says Jacques Benade, director of rugby at Dubai Exiles RFC. The previous year, its team had sustained a number of injuries in matches against Loretto School in Edinburgh and Strathallan in Perth. There is no blocking in rugby so only the ball carrier will be in contact. USA Rugby is committed to creating safe and fun environments for its members. There is particular concern now about concussion. Is Rugby Safe? She learned from the Scottish Rugby Union that it had never seriously collected any injury data, not even a basic audit. Rugby is a contact sport and now, at the highest levels, a thudding and sometimes shocking collision sport. This year’s Rugby World Cup is expected to bring nearly £1 billion to the UK economy. “I’m not quite as close to the touchline as I used to be,” she says. I've often taken their word for it, despite most of the time the safety issue pops up in the middle of a discussion regarding "which sport is better" (which is a stupid argument, they're both good games and fun to watch and play). Report Post. It needs urgent remedy before more children and their families suffer the consequences of collective neglect.” The BMJ poll of doctors later confirmed that 72% felt the game should be made safer. Do you think that, after seeing this clip, rugby is a safe sport to pl… A hate crime is when someone treats you badly because they don’t like something about you. Although rugby is played without pads or helmet it has proven to be a safer game than football. Across multiple sports, the long-term effect of repeated blows to the skull is being surveyed, and there is substantial evidence in retired players linking it to brain damage, specifically a progressive neurological condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy. We employ World Rugby methods of progressive teaching techniques when coaching tackling. But increasingly there is concern that rugby has become too dangerous. A link has been found between repeat concussions and mild cognitive impairment in young adult male rugby players and an association with depression, memory loss and poorer verbal fluency. To be effective at rugby, you need more than stamina, flexibility and coordination, you also need the strength to give and take a tackle. Is rugby safe for children to play? Safer, too – early on, the referee insists that the two packs of forwards should not push against each other because of the disparity in respective weights. Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child governments have a duty to inform and protect children from risks of injury. A player takes a calculated risk not to sustain a serious injury like a broken neck when playing rugby, however all sports contain an element of risk and that risk is so much less than the risk of driving a car. Every step of the way: 12-year-old James Gray (in white) with his family. Pass with a partner, take some kicks, and do some light rucking. He moved on to playing contact rugby when he was nine. With countless tackles, rucks and scrums, rugby is dynamic, strategic and a whole lot of fun. But are the risks too high? Even with these restrictions rugby is a vigorous, physical, rough and tumble game that every football loving kid will enjoy. The most dangerous aspects of the game were the scrum and the tackle. James is quietly confident it will return. News. According to Sports Medicine Australia, there are around 16 injuries for every 1,000 hours of rugby played by schoolchildren. Safety in Rugby Tackling. However, Glenalmond College – an elite boarding school in Scotland whose alumni includes the rugby talisman David Sole – withdrew its 1st XV from two fixtures in 2013 because of concerns over “mismatches in physique”. Common Injuries In Rugby Union… Most injuries are classified as “mild/minor” or “severe”. Rugby Canada PlaySmart is a Player Welfare program that aims to educate players, parents, coaches, match officials and administrators on the safety of rugby across Canada.. “All I can tell you is where the risks are and where the injuries are taking place, so parents will make their own informed decisions. Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation US, Inc. children are more susceptible to injuries, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, has now stated that the laws of rugby may have to change. Now, more than ever, rugby is “a stern nurse of men”. It’s clearly the most important question of the era for rugby’s future. My old high school from a few years ago has decided to add rugby to it's line-up of fall sports. With countless tackles, fights and bruises, rugby is dynamic, strategic and fun. The official website of the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States of America. Many websites look legit but are in fact fake. We are fighting against the tide all the time.”, The sport can also expect to receive significant interest – and an influx of new players – when the 2015 Rugby World Cup is played in England and Wales next autumn. “Actually we weren’t very good at receiving their kick-offs,” he replies. As we speak, she pulls up an email she received at 3.30am that morning from a father whose son was concussed playing rugby at boarding school. Emma Gray looks on from the side of the pitch, wrestling with a pair of Labradors and a whippet. Today rugby is played in over 100 countries all because Mr. Ellis picked up the ball, and ran with it. “This needn’t be seen as an attack on the sport,” she says. Rugby union is the most popular worldwide collision sport and participation is growing. Professor of Public Health Research and Policy , Queen Mary University of London. An enthusiastic trombonist, he stopped playing; his confidence, she noticed, was clearly affected. Two-thirds of all concussions occur during the tackle. Many countries, including the UK, have inadequate child injury surveillance systems. Rugby has it’s moments and is quite a rough sport. Twelve months later, there is little to indicate what James has been through. “I’ve had ups and downs this year,” says James. RugbySafe is the RFU’s overarching player welfare campaign that aims to support clubs, schools, colleges, universities and participants at all levels of the game. Rugby vs. Football – Is Rugby Safe? But since she began to look into the sport she has noticed some disturbing trends. Martin Raftery, the medical director of World Rugby has now stated that the laws of rugby may have to change to reduce concussion risk, but World Rugby is dragging its feet in tackling the dangerous tackle. Provided that the pinnacle, shoulder, and different physique elements are sometimes uncovered throughout play, rugby stands out as a harmful recreation. Last year, his mother asked that he be withdrawn from rugby at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Hertfordshire, but she was told her son couldn’t “pick and choose” his lessons and he left the school. Why rugby is a safe sport – paradoxically. Parents might vote by withdrawing their children. Rugby is a tackle sport played without helmet and pads, yet some in the game contend that it’s safer to play than American football. 130 views Collingwood's rugby league is ready to get back on the field after a one-year hiatus, but without the scrums and tackles this season. Like any sport, rugby isn’t without risk - but good warm-ups, cool-downs and tackling technique all help to minimise any dangers. He’d hoped to raise £200 but ended up collecting £25,000 in sponsorship. Parents; Is Rugby Safe; What is Rugby? The four rugby unions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have rushed out many initiatives, including concussion management protocols, but none have been evaluated. She was standing less than five metres from James when he crumpled on the field. USA Rugby and the US Center for SafeSport require the reporting of sexual misconduct by or of any member of … For example, junior players in the UK no longer clash shoulders like rutting deer when they engage in a scrum. Appropriate measures that include training, first aid provision and equipment should be in place to ensure that rugby union is delivered to the highest standards in a safe and enjoyable environment. Most of the unions have introduced campaigns to more accurately identify concussion and improve its treatment. Allyson M Pollock does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. “But what I like about rugby is that you basically become a big family. They are like Labradors: they need love, feeding, exercise, rough and tumble, and they are happy.”. The main reason rugby players have a relatively low risk of injury compared to football players is paradoxical – rugby players don’t wear protective equipment. Rugby is a tackle sport played without helmet and pads, yet some in the game contend that it’s safer to play than American football. Rookie Rugby Program This website is powered by SportsEngine's Sports Relationship Management (SRM) software, but is owned by and subject to the Edmonton Rugby Union privacy policy. “That may or may not come back, we don’t know,” admits Emma Gray, his mother. From this point, the game of rugby was formed. About equivalent to walking down a street. Photograph: Levon Biss for the Observer. Before you shop at a site you do not know, check for yourself. A rugby player is not allowed to hit a player from the other team unless that player is about to receive the... Gear. “I probably first picked up a rugby ball when I was a few months old,” he thinks. Almost every person I've ever known who played rugby has thought that rugby is safer than American Football. - The World Cup will inspire many youngsters to take up the game, but is the increasing risk of injury a cause for concern? When tackling, the point of contact in rugby is lower than the point of contact in football. Any questions about the USA Rugby SafeSport Program can be directed to the USA Rugby SafeSport Liaison officer, Johnathan Atkeison at jatkeison@usa.rugby or 720-263-2059. Gavin Rich. In 2013-14 the number of reported concussions rose by 59%. She is also aware that research into rugby injuries remains “an extraordinarily neglected area”. 6 other high schools in the area have Rugby already set-up, and 1 person has already been SERIOULY injured in just the past week it's been up. It is the main settlement within the larger Borough of Rugby which has a population of 108,935 (2019 estimate). Hitting. In 1995 the sport became professional at the senior level and now it is clearly a more physical, punishing endeavour. He also set himself a goal: he would run a mile to raise money for injured rugby players less fortunate than himself. At first he couldn’t cover 200m without stopping, but he trained harder than ever and completed the mile in March, cheered on by his schoolmates. Why rugby is a safe sport – paradoxically. Rugby leaves me cold but I’ve skied and climbed and skydived, all sports where the adrenaline rush of a near-death experience is followed by the exhilaration of survival, so I … Rugby is a safe sport. He walks well and has a mischievous smile. Played around the world, there are several variations of rugby, including rugby union, rugby league, and rugby sevens. The rating of rugby-online.tv indicates the site is safe or a scam. Follow our Women's team at the Olympics and learn about other aspects of Rugby. Safe Places are places such as shops and community centres where you can go to get help if you feel upset, scared or angry and/or if you are the victim of a hate crime. The New Zealand system provides financial compensation and support to anyone who suffers an injury irrespective of proof of blame and citizenship. But from my point of view, my boys have benefitted hugely from playing rugby. But given we know that the tackle and the scrum are where injuries are occurring – up to two-thirds of injuries can happen in the tackle – then you might want to reconsider the sport your child plays. Rugby is a high-impact collision sport, in which players have to exert extreme force in order to acquire and maintain possession of the ball. RugbySafe, supported by Simplyhealth, is the RFU’s overarching player safety and wellbeing programme, putting player welfare at the heart of the game and covering how the game should be played and managed to ensure that rugby is as safe as possible. On a recent Sunday morning – almost exactly a year to the day James Gray was injured – the Casterton Sedbergh 1st XV take on Witham Hall, an independent school on tour from Lincolnshire. The rising concussion crisis in the NFL has received plenty of media coverage, as has the impact football has on even high school athletes. But you don’t give up, and that’s what he always said: ‘Whatever happens, I’m not going to give up.’”, Tackling Rugby: What Every Parent Should Know by Allyson M Pollock, is published by Vero at £9.99. Malcolm Gladwell compared American football to dog fighting. Interest in rugby union is likely to surge this spring as the Wallabies compete in the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Despite this, parents in Singapore still does not consider the sport safe for their kids. Since rugby union became a professional sport in 1995, its popularity has increased to such a height that the Six Nations Championship in 2014 had a higher average attendance per game than either the UEFA Euro Cup 2012 or the FIFA World Cup 2014. So if rugby can be safe for kids, how has it gained such notoriety? A 10 minute documentary looking into the safety of rugby, and the ongoing concussion debate within the sport. This amongst different causes recognized on this paper make rugby a harmful recreation certainly. At the time she was preternaturally calm, though she did find her composure sometimes slipped at the hospital. With one head injury or concussion per match in the community game, and concussion common in the children’s game, traumatic and repetitive brain injury is a routine occurrence. Rugby authorities would certainly point to rule changes they have introduced to make the sport less dangerous. Almost every person I've ever known who played rugby has thought that rugby is safer than American Football. 1)Shoulders don't run straight into someones uper body with your shoulders tackle low and put your head up and behind the ball carrier. When the game moved on, James didn’t. Professional players can generate 1,600 poundsof force in a tackle, much more than needed to cause a concussion. Rugby players wear far fewer pads, but it’s those pads that enable and embolden someone to hit another player with … They need to be physical. Despite his injury, James intends to play rugby again. Injuries, everyone accepts, are an inevitable part of the game. “The first game or two would be quite hard emotionally because of all he’s been through,” she says. But increasingly there is concern that rugby has become too dangerous. Rugby’s most outspoken and inf luential journal ist IS RUGBY safe for children and young adults? How We Rank the Best Rugby Union Betting Sites. I have played 18 years . Speaking of crime, Rugby Police are hardly helpful if you are in trouble, and the bid officers, known locally as the Power Rangers, are laughed at by most of the town’s youth. “I would be amazed if there were many schools in the land now where rugby was compulsory,” says Scott Carnochan, headmaster of Casterton Sedbergh and a former schoolboy international for Scotland himself. Contact technique and concussions in the South African under-18 Coca- Mostly, however, it has been a production line for brilliant rugby players. Not only for young men and women, and boys and girls, but for concerned parents a So in 2006 she decided to conduct a small study of her own. Or a school might say: ‘We’ve looked at the injuries and it’s not safe enough. From now on, we are going to play touch rugby.’”, At present, an extreme development seems unlikely. Is rugby safe for 14-20 year-olds to play? The SAFE Rugby - Standard Approach to Field Emergencies in Rugby - programme aims to provide rugby specific, pitch side emergency care training and skills to medical staff and non medical individuals involved at all levels in Irish rugby. Help. James piled in, much as he had done countless times already that day, but on this occasion his neck twisted and his body contorted awkwardly. Use appropriate equipment and make the environment safe. The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has promised to “work with sports such as football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, and tennis to establish at least 6,000 partnerships between schools and local sports clubs by 2017”. He started his rugby career at Sedbergh. “Terrible for us all to see.”. Yes, I think that when played correctly that Rugby is a safe sport. Unlike football or tennis, rugby involves frequent and direct contact with other players. Injuries are frequent – the probabilty of a player being injured in a season can be as high as 90% in some studies, depending on the definition used. It’s not the sport, it’s how it’s taught. Interest against rugby union is expected to grow this spring when the Wallabies take part in the Rugby World Cup in Japan. What changes would Pollock like to see introduced? In men’s rugby, the lower limb is the most commonly injured site (34-48% of all injuries). Compared to American soccer and different comparatively powerful video games, rugby information extra tackles per recreation. At the senior level, repetitive, concussive blows are beginning to be linked to dementia and long-term brain damage. Emma Gray, a lawyer and mother to three boys, shows no emotion as her son makes this defiant statement. Researchers have also found evidence of a link between repeat concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy – a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma. Why rugby is a safe sport – paradoxically. In response to followers, it’s such hits that … My old high school from a few years ago has decided to add rugby to it's line-up of fall sports. Rugby Canada's New Try Rugby Site. They are able to throw their entire body into t… If played with safety first, then rugy is a safer than most sport. “It’s about making the game safe and pleasurable for children. The results, she notes in her new book Tackling Rugby: What Every Parent Should Know, were “surprising and alarming”. Now rugby is a co-curricular activity in many primary schools. Punters can rest assured that our recommended bookies are completely safe. Your forwards should do some practice scrums and lineouts, and your backs should get used to passing in a line. 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