RUGBY is not a contact sport – it’s a collision sport. Concussions and head injuries have been a part of the sport for decades, but authorities and players are now at loggerheads over player safety.
In the latest development, former England players are taking legal action – becaue ex-players even in their early 40s have begun developing early-onset dementia.
A BBC story on December 22 reported, “several former players launched a legal case in December against rugby authorities for alleged negligence in relation to dementia caused by playing.”
The report said in 2018/2019, 20.4 per cent of players sustained at least one match concussion. This was an increase from 16 per cent in the 2017/2018 season.
Former England player Steve Thompson, 42, said the sport has left him with permanent brain damage. In a UK Guardian report, Thompson, who started playing at 15, admitted he already sometimes forgets his wife’s name. They have four children, all under seven.
Thompson and six other former leading players, all under 45, have been diagnosed with early signs of dementia. They blame repeated blows to the head, and have started legal action against English and Welsh rugby union authorities and World Rugby.
Thompson said he can’t remember games from the 2003 Rugby World Cup, according to a video posted on BBC.
World Rugby is currently discussing making tackles above the waist illegal by the 2023 World Cup.
Newsday contacted TT rugby players Kwanieze John, Leon Pantor and Felician Guerra to get their feedback on player safety.
Guerra is the captain of the TT men’s rugby 15s team, Pantor is the skipper of the TT men’s 7s team and John is a TT women’s player who is also involved in the administration of the sport at secondary school level.
Are authorities protecting players?
Pantor, a member of the senior team since he was 15, said, “Basically world rugby, every year they try to evolve the game, updating certain standards.”
Pantor said annually authorities aim to revise measures “to reduce the risk or the injuries from the outcome of tackles.”
Pantor said internationally the technology is available to reduce injuries and poor tackling.
“Internationally they have cameras…they would be able to pull back up (footage) and see where a player went wrong. Regionally, we don’t have that type of infrastructure in place.”
Guerra agreed that over the years safety measures have improved internationally and local authorities are guided by this.
“The game has evolved significantly in relation to protecting players in relation to concussion and head injuries in particular.”
Guerra added, “We are guided by the laws set out by the World Rugby Union, so I would say in terms of that we have come a long way. In terms of us locally we don’t have any set strategies in place. What I can say is that since we have abided by (world) regulations, the chances of head injuries or concussions have reduced.”
John echoed the sentiments of her counterparts saying “a lot of the health and safety protocols that are in place now in the game were not necessarily enforced (back) then. The rules have changed considerably.”
John said the English players involved in the lawsuit played when the game was more aggressive.
“If you look at their time, the game was havoc compared to what it is now.”
John believes local authorities are making efforts to decrease the likelihood of injuries, because changes in World Rugby laws and safety protocols are circulated locally.
Any serious injuries for TT trio?
Fortunately the TT players have all escaped major injuries during their careers.
Guerra said, “In my 24 years, knock on wood, I have never received a concussion or a head injury.
“The majority of serious injuries I have sustained have not happened as a result of rugby, (it has happened) either from playing other sports or accidents in life.”
Guerra said when he used to play rugby as a child his mother would have a difficult time.
“There is always the concern for injury in any sport. My parents, as much as they may have been concerned, they have never tried to discourage me from playing…but my mother had indicated that it was difficult to actually see me play in my younger days.”
Pantor said, “Thankfully no (I have not had any major injuries). To me, it all depends on the approach of the coaches. Some people like the collision part of the game, some like the evasive part of the game. In the Caribbean you have more evasive players, runners, slim built.”
Pantor said local players are smaller than international players.
Some of the powerhouse teams are South Africa, England and New Zealand.
“Even if I think of my injuries in the game it was not in contact,” John said. “There was nobody around me when I got injured in the game, so for me there wasn’t that sense of risk in the game.”
Will more protective gear in rugby help?
In rugby minimal protective gear is used by players compared to athletes who play other sports. In American football, players are protected from head to toe with equipment that includes helmets, shoulder pads, mouthguards, gloves and thigh and knee pads.
But despite the protection in the National Football League, players do not escape serious injuries with some suffering season-ending, career-ending and at times life-threatening injuries.
In rugby most players will choose to wear a mouthguard, and some wear a scrum cap. Thin shoulder pads and shin guards are used by some.
John believes more protection will not necessarily mean less injury.
“It gives you a false sense of protection…you feel invincible (with equipment), but if you know (if) you hit this person my shoulder is going to rock out (get dislocated), you not going to hit them as hard.”
John further explained, “If you are strong like most of those international players the impact will be harder, but you still gauge the impact, because the stronger you are, is the more impact you can give and take. If you put someone who isn’t strong and you give them those pads, to me it is going to create injuries, especially for rugby players who aren’t used to the pads.”
Pantor said, “To me it is not really necessary (to wear more protection), but rugby also has protective equipment…it is up to the player themselves, the coaches or the managers of teams on how serious they take it.”
Pantor said a scrum cap does not prevent a player from getting concussion, saying players must avoid collisions if possible. He added that education is key and coaches must manage players, enforce safety and awareness during games.
Comparing American football and rugby, Guerra said, “How much protection do they actually get from this padding that they use in American football? It is a debate that has happened in the two sports for a long time.
“The velocity that American footballers make contact with each other is a lot higher than that of rugby.”
Guerra said in rugby players can’t tackle in the air, can’t tackle above the shoulder and arms must be used in a tackle, which allows for greater control.
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