by Jon Wills

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 21, 2009

This is a little bit tricky. Rugby is a sport that is enjoyed by so many millions of people right across our world. Yet there are times when certain aspects of the game could be considered to be dangerous. There have been some nasty injuries to players over the years which have left them in a wheelchair or bed bound for the rest of their lives. It is so horrible to think that people are doing something explicitly for a bit of fun and then end of unable to walk or lead a normal life for the rest of their lives.

Obviously, nobody wants to see this, so the authorities have to determine the safety of rugby. This is why they are very often changing the rules of the game in an effort to avoid life shattering injuries. I guess they must have been pretty successful in this because it is only very rarely that you do get to hear of really bad injuries, although they can amount to something such as a broken neck or broken back in extreme circumstances. It is therefore paramount that rules protect players from, such tragedies that can wreck their and their loved ones lives.

There was an instance in a World Cup finals tournament some years ago when an amateur player from a minor nation who was obviously not physically up to competing against top class fitter than your average player and broke his neck. Good to say other rugby unions rallied around to raise money so that his life could become as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, but the damage, as they say, had already been done. Young players cannot play fully blown rugby - they play without contact, which helps avoid problems. There are other rules such as prop forwards and hookers - the front row triumvirate - must be used to playing in those positions, otherwise there are what are called uncontested scrums so that the pressure of scrums is not felt by people not used to playing in those positions - one, two and three, as they are numbered.

I think the sport has done a lot to get its house in order so as to protect those who play - good on the powers that be! I honestly think that other sports authorities could show a more caring attitude to make sure that people who partake in them at all possible levels are not maimed for life because of an accident. That way, young people will not be deterred from taking part in what amounts to a healthy and good activity. And the innocent person who unwittingly inflicted a terrible injury on an opponent would not be left with a feeling of guilt because of their innocent actions.

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