Rugby at school level

[Electric_Andy]

I think I have been thinking along the lines of "kids have always played Rugby, so where's the harm?". When in fact they said that about smoking, until it was deemed dangerous.

It's a tough one this. I wouldn't object to my son playing rugby if he loved it, but I also wouldn't actively oppose a ban. As long as an alternative (touch?) was offered. I guess there would always be rugby clubs for those who still wanted full contact (or would these be covered by a ban also?). So it would exclude children from playing it, just in school.

 

[Profpointy]

My personal take on this is that many members of my family have played full contact rugby at school over the years (my father did, I did and my two sons did). We enjoyed it although we were aware of the risks. We were also taught how to tackle and how to scrummage properly to minimise injuries. My wife has a phrase, the ritual risk taking of youth which means that many adolescents get a kick out of risky behaviour. If it wasn't rugby it would be rock climbing, bungee jumping, cycling fast downhill. I don't advocate compulsory participation in risky sports for all school children but I don't think it would be sensible to ban it for those who want to participate.

Having said that, one of the Newcastle researchers who wrote this piece has a friend who is a tetraplegic following a rugby injury and has a son who suffered concussion playing rugby at school. So I can understand the reasoning behind the research.

This is a completely inappropriate post. It's reasoned, well argued, measured and balanced, and convincing to a sports-avoider at school such as myself. You do know this is the internet and at the very least a comparison with Hitler would be due by this point.

 

[slowmotion]

I played from eight to fourteen and don't remember any of my contemporaries getting seriously hurt but the games were well organised. I think the risks could be greater today because kids are so much bigger than they used to be.

 

[green1]

its about the hidden injuries and the impact later on.

If a kid is only interested in playing rugby and nothing else the impact of not letting them play maybe far higher later on.

 

[nickyboy]

There was a child killed in my street crossing the road- perhaps we better ban that as well.

i also lost a childhood friend at the age of 21 who fell over and hit his head on the curb and died whilst walking down the pavement- better ban pavements as well

At the risk of getting a warning from the mods....

You, sir, are a buffoon

 

[Bimble]

Mod note: Keep it civil. Disagree and counter each other's points by all means, but give the personal digs a rest please. Thanks.

 

[swee'pea99]

Hitler never played rugby, and look how that turned out.









✓

 

[smutchin]

My son played rugby at school and for a local club. I encouraged him to play and didn't mind him getting roughed up a bit - character building, innit.

What I did object to was the occasion when an opposing player deliberately tip-tackled him, dropping him on his head. It was right at the end of the game, so the ref just ignored it and blew the final whistle. I was apoplectic, and ran onto the pitch to express my disappointment - not the kind of behaviour I would normally approve of. The offending player openly mocked me and it's lucky for him that I was in control of my temper enough not to do something stupid.

On another occasion, he was playing in a tournament and had to leave the pitch after getting a knock to the head that left him dizzy for several minutes. He didn't come back on during that match, but was allowed to play in another match a couple of hours later. Really, he should have been taken off to hospital for a check-up.

Both of those instances show what is wrong with rugby at school level - the referees and coaches aren't adequately trained to know how to deal with potentially dangerous situations. Either incident could have resulted in long-term damage and it's chilling to think about it.

 

[green1]

its not about not letting them play, and what is the impact of not playing sport.

But it's not easy with rugby. Yes futsal teaches you skills that can be transferred into football as a kid grows up. Same with kwik cricket. But touch rugby doesn't teach you keys skills required to play rugby.

I don't have kids, but if I did they wouldnt be allowed to sit on a computer all day ever day. And I would never stop them playing sport because of any perceived danger. Some of my most valuable life lessons growing up ended in hospital visits. That's what childhood is for learning your limits and life's boundaries whilst you still have the invincibility of youth.

 

[smutchin]

I don't have kids

If you did, you might better appreciate that they're not as invincible as they seem. They also need guidance from those who know better to stop them testing their limits too far.

 

[smutchin]

luckily I've never spent any time in hospital so who knows what I've missed out on.

I spent quite a lot of time in hospital as a kid. I missed out on doing lots of other things that would have been considerably more fun and interesting.

 

[AndyRM]

But it's not easy with rugby. Yes futsal teaches you skills that can be transferred into football as a kid grows up. Same with kwik cricket. But touch rugby doesn't teach you keys skills required to play rugby.

Sevens is a pretty good place to start.

 

[green1]

I'm not really sure what valuable life lessons ending up in hospital teaches one

That you haven't quite got the risk/reward equation quite right. Also that you may want to check the brakes on your bike arent about to fall off before you attempt that really steep rough track that has a 90 degree bend next to a stone wall at the bottom.

 

[spen666]

you said all sport, I won't embarrass you by quoting it.......
.
yeah yeah we all could've been a contender, the internet is full of them.
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hope my child has a more knowledgeable welfare officer when it comes to the impact of contact sports on his body and head.

All sports, in fact all life has risks associated with it. You can't prevent all risks


You clearly have an agenda against rugby. That is fine you stop your kids playing rugby. There is no reason to ban my children or anyone elses children from playing rugby.

In fact, cycling is far more dangerous than rugby when you look at the number of people killed or seriously injured cycling. Lets ban that as well.


Why do people seek to remove freedom of choice from others. You have an issue about rugby or whatever, then fine. I don't seek to force you to do that activity, but you seek to force your views on others to prevent them exercising their choices



I am still waiting for the explanation of how playing futsall will equip children to play rugby or what the concern is about rugby players heading the ball

 

[spen666]

idiotic post.

as idiotic as the post I was replying to that was using the fact of knowing of one person who suffered a serious rugby injury as a justification to ban the sport.

Strangely you didn't call that post idiotic - because it supports your anti rugby agenda?