Page 96 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

In the ‘Gym’ section of this book, the way strength and size is being championed by some over skill and guile was documented, and this undoubtedly contributes to the injury count on weekends. The lazy refrain that rugby law makers, by outlawing rucking, high tackles and such like, have made the game ‘soft’ doesn’t take into account the more brutal collisions and contacts experienced in today’s game. Gone soft? The evidence would suggest otherwise. Of course, there’ll always be injuries in rugby union, but how are the increased concussions, head injuries and trauma injuries minimised? ‘Jackling’ to be phased out of the game? Pitch sizes – at a time when space is at a premium? - to be increased to allow for more space? Perhaps the number of substitutes could be cut, to ensure that players are required to stay the course for 80 minutes, and need an ‘engine’ rather than purely focusing on size?
Either way, law makers will rightly continue to amend the rules to protect players but, nonetheless, injuries and X-rays are here to stay and as with all sport, they’re a necessary evil that has to be accepted by those who play the game. But any way in which the rugby lawmakers can minimise the risks can only be a good thing for the men, women and children who play the game and for, crucially, the future generations who will one day lace up their boots to play competitive, contact rugby.
Perhaps it’s a slight exaggeration to refer to rugby union as a sport that metaphorically ‘eats its young’ – but the way it is evolving (or as some would say, mutating), many of its walking wounded would attest that it’s certainly a sport that is increasingly taking bites out of its players...
94 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY