Tuesday, 26 August 2014

"School rugby brings more benefits than risks"


“British Bulldog”, another rough contact activity, is increasingly outlawed in

risk-averse schools. So why not rugby too?



This is the crucial question posed by a soon-to-be-published book: Tackling

Rugby: What Every Parent Should Know,
by Professor Allyson Pollock, from

Queen Mary College.



In it, Prof Pollock, whose son suffered concussion playing rugby, makes the

startling claim that school players have nearly a one-in-six (“at least 17

per cent”) chance of injury during the season.



Surely this is one statistic guaranteed to grab the attention of any player,

parent or coach. With fifteen players in a team, two or three will be

crocked – suffering pain and injury in the process.



And yes, like most coaches, I’ve seen teenagers flat out on the pitch after a

ferocious tackle. I’ve heard the sickening snap of broken teenage bones.

I’ve witnessed the sad sight of teenagers trying to hold back the pain of a

blow, tears welling up all the while.



Safety. The sport is already hugely aware of its paramount importance.



Indeed the need for safety is the mantra drilled into school players and

coaches from Day One: “Safety is more important than winning and losing”.



Coaches are increasingly trained in safety procedures, like using uncontested

scrums. No school fixture now takes place without attendant medics – though

we all pray, each Saturday, they’ll never be needed. Yet unscheduled trips

to hospitals still happen on too many match days.



So should we ban the game, as Professor Pollock argues? Clearly the risk of

injury will never be eradicated from such a high-contact sport. But I still

believe the many benefits rugby brings outweigh the undoubted risks.



Rugby offers teenagers increased confidence and self-respect, as the ultimate

character-building sport. It fosters courage, fitness, team effort and

togetherness, bringing together boys and girls from all backgrounds.



It teaches great sportsmanship – shaking hands with an opponent – even after

being hurt by them in some crunching tackle. It applauds skill and

commitment. Cheating is almost unheard-of. And this is one game where the

word of the referee really is law. Never once have I heard a player argue

with a referee or feign injury.



What other game can boast all this?



So we certainly need to be aware of rugby’s risks – but not blind to the

game’s many benefits. In my view, rugby should have a healthy future in

schools.



The author teaches English at a top independent boarding school @BoardingBeak.



Also by the author:



Common sense returns to English GCSEs



Nobody likes GCSEs, but they’re the best we’ve got



Results Day 2014: spare a thought for teachers


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"School rugby brings more benefits than risks"

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