What chance do you think full contact may be removed in 20 years, and we're playing something like tag?
Anybody who thinks that high impact on the head doesn't have an impact on the brain is just not getting it. Yes, dementia affects lots of people but high impact sport exacerbates that issue.
If you look at a lot of the famous footballers who now suffer or have died from dementia, what has happened in the NFL, I firmly believe there is a correlation between the two.
I live in Glasgow and a very close friend of mine was the daughter of Billy McNeill, the first Brit to lift the European Cup. He sadly passed away a couple of years ago with severe dementia. The effect on him was sad to behold. And there is a man who spent his playing career heading the old heavy leather footballs. Plenty of other footballer names as well.
This is the tip of the iceberg. I believe there will be more coming out. As has been said, the drive in both codes have been for bigger, faster, harder, to the detriment of skill (e.g. where have all the ball playing loose forwards gone?). You can deny it if you wish, but that won't make the situation go away.
I don't know the solution to be honest. You take away the physical contact, you take away a lot of the game. What is too much? What is too little? I have no idea.
But as someone who has to live with someone who has dementia every day (my Father in Law), it's not an affliction I would want to happen to me, or anyone else.
T just happened to be reading about the great Reg Gasnier yesterday, died some time ago with a brain tumour. We used to just cast it aside as going ga-ga with old age but we know a bit more now.
I suggested in a previous post that we could go back to the 5yd rule rather than the 10metre separation. It reduces the speed of impact and looking at the old games on Vimeo etc, would that be such a change? Forwards came together but without the big hit that gives the shock impact. Tackling wasn't as gang based from the games we can still watch but there was still the flopping on to slow the ptb down!
The half backs had to be quicker and slicker and we did have ball-playing props and loose forwards to make the gaps. McCue, Murphy and co saw it as a challenge! more scrum moves!
It would be relatively easy to play a few games early season to test the logic at any rate, and it would be a positive step by our game.
But then when teams creep forward when defending and are tackling them at the same place on the field (Vertically at least so the PTB just moves 10/15 yards left or right) everyone complains it looks just like Union & there will be outrage.
Not that they will, but reducing subs even further would change things a bit as you wouldn't just be able to have (Out of the 17) 13 or 14 battering rams and a few smaller/quicker players which is what the game seems to be at the minute.
Just when were the try scoring records made? Not in SL!
Teams used to try to stand on Bevan's toes, but he still scored tries. True that the short kicks were more prevalent, and effective. The halves from that era could show the kids some moves !
A few trial games, friendlies if you like would do no harm.
Rugby league is a contact sport, but the emphasis has changed in recent years to high collision impact by players developed into battering rams, to the detriment of skill. The days of skilful players able to beat a player with speed, a side step or a dummy or creating space through well timed passes, are largely gone, with the emphasis on strength and kicking for position. In my view, this is to the detriment of the sport, as well as the the safety and long term health of players through impact injuries.
Whilst the safety and wellbeing of players is paramount, that can be achieved by the current approach to head injuries ie head injury checks and players not allowed to play until medically cleared, regular head checks etc; heavy punishment of high tackles and dangerous play; changes to the game to reduce high impact collisions and place an emphasis on ski, as suggested by others; and possibly wearing protective head gear. This should not take away the fact that rugby is a contact sport and to change that would simply see the end of the game.
There are many people who develop dementia who have never taken part in any sport, but that does not detract from the need for sports managing bodies to take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of high impact injuries to players.
At the end of the day, it would not be possible to totally remove the risk of injury, but that is no different than most sports, such as boxing, football, cycling, motor racing, athletics etc etc, I read recently of Colin Jackson suffering long term damage to his knees through his years in athletics. Will all such sports be banned and people wrapped in cotton wool to avoid any risk of injury in their daily lives?
Agree with all that Frank. The RFL are making progress in this matter by addressing coaching and improving tackling techniques too.
A report in the Daily Mail yesterday said 40 ex RL players are going to sue the Rugby league next month for negligence.
Well the Daily Mail!!!!!
I am sure that there are a few "no win, no fee" lawyers out there chasing these claims.
Well the Daily Mail!!!!!
Yes, the best paper around for Rugby League 🙄