Page 94 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

In any alphabetical exploration, there are always slim pickings to choose from when it comes to X. But here, in what can often be the most unforgiving of sports, ‘X-rays’ seems an appropriate choice, what with the countless amounts of injuries that occur on rugby pitches on late Saturday afternoons. Across A&E departments up and down the country, you’ll see muddied and bloodied rugby players in their club tracksuits, or even kits, ready for their stitches, X-rays or plaster casts, slumped in the waiting room and watching the clock.
At the time of writing, the 2022 Six Nations is in full swing and the injury lists continue to mount up with the usual HIAs, knocks and broken bones and this, as you’d expect, is replicated (perhaps even exceeded?) in the amateur game.
On match day, gone are the days of the ageing clubman with a fag in his mouth and a bucket and ‘magic’ sponge in hand providing the only physio cover – now many amateur clubs will employ or have the use of a qualified physiotherapist. But, with amateurs, world-class medical care often isn’t there and aside from general advice after the game or on subsequent training nights, many injured players are left to their own devices for the rest of the week.
92 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY