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<blockquote data-quote="Yoshimitsu" data-source="post: 1012988" data-attributes="member: 71899"><p>As a youth rugby coach this is devastating. It's already difficult enough to get players involved without the media deciding that it's time to get involved in killing it. There are sections of that community that would love to. It's still viewed as some elitist cult by some. Obviously there are genuine concerns here, but the glee with which it'll be promoted is more to do with perception than protection. "Won't somebody think of the children".</p><p></p><p>Life is risk. I have kids that play rugby because we provide an outlet for physicality that is largely missing from all of life now. The playgrounds have been neutered to the extent it's more "buddy benches" than full on Bulldog. Sport can break you in many ways. I snapped my ACL playing football and broke my collar bone and dislocated my shoulder playing the same. My knees are destroyed through literally 000's of hours playing hard court tennis. Rugby? Ribs, thumb, 7 fingers (weakness there) three concussions and many, many bruises and cuts. Never played at a high enough level to suffer the repeated heavy knocks that professionals appear to have.</p><p></p><p>I think it's clear that lessons have been and continue to be learned but I look at what the majority of the sport has become and wonder if it is sustainable. For example England's defence would probably be happy to be described as "concussive". The players are massive and hit hard. It's not clear to me yet that lowering the tackle height is going to be enough. Not unless it gets radical "below waist" and as the RFU found out even that may not work:</p><p></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.itv.com/news/2019-01-24/rugbys-tackle-trial-abandoned-for-putting-players-at-greater-risk[/URL]</p><p></p><p>We live in a world where the availability of information is instant. Outliers and anecdotes become visible and are presented as evidence. How many ex-pros are leading happy fulfilled lives with great memories of their participation?</p><p></p><p>My view remains unchanged. Rugby is a societal good. The things you learn and experience in rugby are pretty much the best things in life. As Steve Thompson says:</p><p></p><p>"The whole point of us doing this is to look after the young players coming through. I don't want rugby to stop. It's been able to give us so much, but we just want to make it safer. It can finish so quickly, and suddenly you've got your whole life in front of you."</p><p></p><p>The balance point is critical. It's a hard, tough game and that's where some of the appeal lies. If it gets de-powered too much I for one will throw the towel in. Challenging yourself physically through pain and adversity is a good lesson to learn. Clearly we shouldn't be crippling participants but equally riders and horses die eventing all the time. There's no massive clamor for that to be banned / changed. Why not?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Yoshimitsu, post: 1012988, member: 71899"] As a youth rugby coach this is devastating. It's already difficult enough to get players involved without the media deciding that it's time to get involved in killing it. There are sections of that community that would love to. It's still viewed as some elitist cult by some. Obviously there are genuine concerns here, but the glee with which it'll be promoted is more to do with perception than protection. "Won't somebody think of the children". Life is risk. I have kids that play rugby because we provide an outlet for physicality that is largely missing from all of life now. The playgrounds have been neutered to the extent it's more "buddy benches" than full on Bulldog. Sport can break you in many ways. I snapped my ACL playing football and broke my collar bone and dislocated my shoulder playing the same. My knees are destroyed through literally 000's of hours playing hard court tennis. Rugby? Ribs, thumb, 7 fingers (weakness there) three concussions and many, many bruises and cuts. Never played at a high enough level to suffer the repeated heavy knocks that professionals appear to have. I think it's clear that lessons have been and continue to be learned but I look at what the majority of the sport has become and wonder if it is sustainable. For example England's defence would probably be happy to be described as "concussive". The players are massive and hit hard. It's not clear to me yet that lowering the tackle height is going to be enough. Not unless it gets radical "below waist" and as the RFU found out even that may not work: [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.itv.com/news/2019-01-24/rugbys-tackle-trial-abandoned-for-putting-players-at-greater-risk[/URL] We live in a world where the availability of information is instant. Outliers and anecdotes become visible and are presented as evidence. How many ex-pros are leading happy fulfilled lives with great memories of their participation? My view remains unchanged. Rugby is a societal good. The things you learn and experience in rugby are pretty much the best things in life. As Steve Thompson says: "The whole point of us doing this is to look after the young players coming through. I don't want rugby to stop. It's been able to give us so much, but we just want to make it safer. It can finish so quickly, and suddenly you've got your whole life in front of you." The balance point is critical. It's a hard, tough game and that's where some of the appeal lies. If it gets de-powered too much I for one will throw the towel in. Challenging yourself physically through pain and adversity is a good lesson to learn. Clearly we shouldn't be crippling participants but equally riders and horses die eventing all the time. There's no massive clamor for that to be banned / changed. Why not? [/QUOTE]
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