School rugby “a scandal”
Thursday January 8th, 2015
Schools rugby is a dangerous sport with risks that have not been assessed, a neurosurgeon claims today.
Michael
Carter, from Bristol, accuses the sport of “side-stepping”
normal child safeguarding.
Mr Carter calls for schools rugby to use non-contested scrums and suggests children start by playing touch rugby, a form of the game that avoids physical tackling.
Writing in The BMJ, Mr Carter points out that in many schools – mostly private schools – rugby can be compulsory from the age of eight.
Children may be pitted against others of their age of very different stature, he warns.
He reports asking around other neurosurgeons and getting reports of at least two deaths in the past decade together with up to five serious spinal fractures. There have also been several depressed skull fractures, potentially causing brain injury, he reports.
Mr Carter, of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, writes: “Schools, coaches, and parents all contribute to a tribal, gladiatorial culture that encourages excessive aggression, suppresses injury reporting, and encourages players to carry on when injured.”
He adds: “It is vital that schools, clubs, medical facilities, and, most importantly, regulatory bodies cooperate now to quantify the risks of school rugby.
Failure to do so will inhibit the development of rational policies around the sport, put junior players at risk, and may ultimately threaten the survival of rugby in its present form.”
Journal editor Dr Fiona Godlee backed Mr Carter, calling the situation a “scandal.”
She said: “let's call the current state of monitoring and prevention of rugby injury in schools what it is: a scandal. It needs urgent remedy before more children and their families suffer the consequences of collective neglect.”
Lack of injury data may be putting junior players at risk. The BMJ 8 January 2015 [abstract]
Tags: Brain & Neurology | Child Health | Fitness | UK News
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