School Rugby

My son goes to a school that is in to rugby and he often comes homes injured, I'd rather they didn't play it at all.
 
Hobbit said:
My two fractured skulls and broken neck were received when I was playing club rugby in my 20's and 30's. The game is never without risk, but learning it properly does mitigate the risks.
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What about your broken nose...........?


What do you mean you've never broken it.........oops :) :)
 
guest100718 said:
My son goes to a school that is in to rugby and he often comes homes injured, I'd rather they didn't play it at all.
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What are his common injuries? I get it from a parental point of view and im no different in that sense but parental views can often be very blinkered where they look at it in isolation thinking of their own kids.

I dont particularly like my 21 year old boozing to 3 and 4 in the morning but it's not going to stop and unlikely to be banned.

Not the same subject but same context in being protective of our own kids
 
It's advances in medicine that has highlighted these risks, Kids in the USA are no longer allowed to head a football until they're in the teens, the latest Will Smith film based on facts proves the brain damage done to American Footballers, now tackling in Rugby,
Over the top, possibly, but if it was my Child damaged in any sport I could see the other side.
To us older ones it's ridiculous, but a kid learning now and knowing no difference, they'll just accept it.
On the opposite side no headguards for male boxers in this years Olympics?
 
Both my boys played rugby one till 16 (he didnt like tackling so never really go injured) the other till 18, wo wasl always getting injured, never been so scared as when a scrum collapsed and he was playing hooker then and he never got up, 2 hours later in the air ambulance in a neck brace and on a board.. damaged the ligaments in his neck and shouulder, but he carried on playing for a further 3 years absolutely loved it ... only gave up as he is a cricketer (leg spinner) and kept on hurting his shoulder. If you take the tackling away might as well play football !!
 
Isn't the whole essence of rugby that there is contact and tackling? In any case, how many state schools still actually play rugby? ..very few I bet as most do football.
I think the injuires recieved through playing American Football (Stateside obviously) outweigh the number or rugby injuiries( percentage wise of players), and that's with all that body armour they wear.

Perhaps we should all just lock our kids in their bedroom, wiuth no toys or gadgets (can't risk RSI etc), and feed them water and a slice of bread a day so they don't get fat.
 
I played in the front row from the age of 7 until I stopped playing at 35. I was lucky in that I only had one serious injury in that time and it was the one that stopped me playing (dislocated my shoulder and my collar bone half came out at the same time so had to stop or have my shoulder reconstructed).

There are risks in rugby but there are risks in any sport. I am not sure how it is taught at school now but at club level where my little nephew plays it starts with touch at age 6 and contact is slowly introduced as you go up the age groups. That seems a sensible way forward.

I would have less of an issue if some of the scrummaging was toned down at lower age groups. The simple fact is that there are not many coaches with experience of teaching front row forwards properly and that is an area with most risk. I have no problem with general, on pitch contact but I would be in favour of lowering the level of tackle height at lower age groups so as contact above the sternum is classed as foul play.

I would also look to tighten the rules on the age at which you can play team matches at club level. I was only 14 or 15 when I played my first full games at club level for the 1st or 2nd teams and that meant scrummaging against fully developed adults. That was probably a bit reckless on my part and on the part of the club.

The fact is that there are risks in rugby but to remove contact is to kill the sport. I would have no issue if parents decided that they would rather their kids did not play but I would have issues with the removal of contact at school level.
 
GB72 said:
I was lucky
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Me too! I was always the first to tackle the biggest guy, I was very lucky I had fanastic coaches that drilled in good posture and technique. Playing on the wing also helped me avoid injury.

I just loved to tackle, I worked very hard on it and thankfully after about 14 years of the game I have only a dodgy neck nerve (doesnt sit in its groove) to show for my days.

The only time I broke something was on a bouncy castle... I'm terrified of the things and I doubt I will let my boy on one. His is playing rugby for sure however!
 
As long as the correct technique is taught and adhered to then there's no harm in it. If it's not then obviously there's a danger. But school was where I started to play and learnt the game. Tackling is a must. You take contact out the game until 18, so then all your saying is someone that hasn't been taught how to tackle can play senior rugby. If they went to a club that is, well that's a danger in itself surely? A lot bigger one than letting a few 13 year old kids learn to hit each other in the correct manor. How hard are you really going to be hit at 13? Not very is the answer.
 
Agree its all about the coaching, I was lucky. My PE teacher at school used to play in the centre for harlequins in the 80's!
 
I played rugby at school and we had a good rugby coach. He was actually an art teacher but rugby was his love. He taught us how to tackle properly and I don't remember getting injured in a tackle. I can still hear in my head his broad welsh accent saying " the bigger they are the harder they fall" and "they can't run without their legs".
I do blame the scrum though ( I played as a hooker) for my bad knees and back that have been a problem for nearly 40 years.
 
LUFC 1972 said:
Both my boys played rugby one till 16 (he didnt like tackling so never really go injured) the other till 18, wo wasl always getting injured, never been so scared as when a scrum collapsed and he was playing hooker then and he never got up, 2 hours later in the air ambulance in a neck brace and on a board.. damaged the ligaments in his neck and shouulder, but he carried on playing for a further 3 years absolutely loved it ... only gave up as he is a cricketer (leg spinner) and kept on hurting his shoulder. If you take the tackling away might as well play football !!
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Ahhhhh this. The scrummage is VERY VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE CHANGED. The pressure on the front row must be astronomical. I know I used to play there. Bloody stupid!!!! I swear my back is ruined because of it!!
 
I played rugby and football at various times in my younger days, and seemed to pick up more injuries playing football! Admittedly in those days you tried to run round the opposing players, rather than running straight into them, which seems to be the modern trend. I also don't like the lifting in the line out, which was illegal in my days of playing the game. You had to jump to catch the ball then. Why was this rule changed? :confused:
 
Grew up in Wigan. Everyone at my school played rugby, break times we went onto the tennis courts and played tap rugby, you soon learn to be quick at dodging when you play it on a hard surface.

Personally I loved it! Wouldn't have changed it for anything. Had more injuries from skateboarding or going out on my bike than I ever have from playing rugby.
 
Crazyface said:
Ahhhhh this. The scrummage is VERY VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE CHANGED. The pressure on the front row must be astronomical. I know I used to play there. Bloody stupid!!!! I swear my back is ruined because of it!!
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Perhaps it would be easier and safer with fewer players in the scrum, more like Rugby League. I spent most of my Rugby career playing in the backs, because I was a fast runner rather than heavy and strong. However I did play a few games in the scrum and found it pretty hard work.
 
selwood90 said:
As long as the correct technique is taught and adhered to then there's no harm in it. If it's not then obviously there's a danger. But school was where I started to play and learnt the game. Tackling is a must. You take contact out the game until 18, so then all your saying is someone that hasn't been taught how to tackle can play senior rugby. If they went to a club that is, well that's a danger in itself surely? A lot bigger one than letting a few 13 year old kids learn to hit each other in the correct manor. How hard are you really going to be hit at 13? Not very is the answer.
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The problem is the mix of experienced and non experienced players in school rugby, very different to the club environment. Even with good coaching in place there is no alternative to experience.

Coming into a school rugby game with just PE lessons under you is not enough. The solution is to keep the tackle and the scrum out of the game in schools, leave it to the clubs to do that.

Schools are just for an introduction to the game, get the kids to the clubs to play the game proper.
 
Bloody stupid. Its rugby. Kids know what they are getting into when they take up the sport.
Dont get me wrong injuries in rugby tend to be extremely serious and I wouldn't wish it on anybody
Perhaps teach kids to protect themselves better? I used to get kicked loads playing football and managed to never get seriously injured because I learnt how to take tackles. Not getting my legs planted etc etc.....
 
I played rugby for 6 yrs at school and after, a few cut and bruises.

Played cricket for 5 yrs, 3 broken fingers ( batting ) broken nose ( keeping wicket, badly ) and dislocated shoulder ( landed badly in the slips )

Been playing golf for 20+ yrs, broken finger ( hit by ball ) and knocked out cold ( hit by ball on back of head ) both times no shouts for player.

Every game / sport carrys risks, that's life !!
 
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