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Module 2 NVQ

INJURY WORRY IN RUGBY UNION

By Rhys Jenkins
CONTENTS PAGE

INTRODUCTION PAGE 1

EXAMPLE CASES PAGE 2

DISCUSSION PAGE 3

FIGURES AND RESOURCES PAGE 4

CONCLUSION PAGE 6
INTRODUCTION

This report is based on a story written by Graham Thomas of the BBC. This story stresses the concerns of the British and Irish Lions Doctor James Robson surrounding injuries in the current game. Dr Robson believes that injuries to players have reached a critical point. He thinks that the game is faster, more demanding, players are bigger and stronger and the collisions and impacts that occur are becoming more and more dangerous.

James Robson thinks that the game of rugby is providing collisions but not necessarily the entertainment of yesteryears. He says that game plans are now geared more towards players running into opposition as opposed to using their skills and running into space and gaps in the opposition. Dr Robsons’s wish is that players will recognise the need to become smaller, faster more skilful to break down defences and utilise space rather than seek collision.

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EXAMPLES

The story goes on to mention the legality of ruck clearance. The interview was conducted following the 2009 Lions Tour where a serious injury to Adam Jones was due to what was deemed an illegal clear-out during a ruck. The result was a dislocated shoulder which rendered Adam Jones out of rugby for six months. As a result referees have been told by the International Rugby Board to adopt a zero tolerance policy regarding the ruck area and infringements. This is one approach by the powers that be to reduce the possible injury to players via illegal play but is it possible to reduce the frequency and seriousness of injuries in general law abiding play?

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DISCUSSION

Every year during the professional era of rugby, players have become bigger, faster and stronger than those who have played before them. With this the game is being played at afaster tempo, and being more physically demanding collisions are harder and more frequent. Obviously if there are more collisions during a game then the percentage of injuries as a result of collisions are going to increase. The question is – Is the game likely to revert back to being played by more skilful, more agile, faster players? In my