Doctors, academics and health experts "have called for tackling to be banned in rugby played in schools in Britain and Ireland to reduce the risk of children suffering serious injuries," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. In an open letter to government ministers and chief medical officers, 73 signatories on Wednesday "expressed concern about government plans to increase participation in rugby in English schools." Calling for "a switch to touch and non-contact versions of the game," the letter stated, "The majority of all injuries occur during contact or collision, such as the tackle and the scrum." England hosted last year's Rugby World Cup and the Rugby Football Union launched an "All Schools" program in '12 aimed at increasing the number of state secondary schools playing rugby. Fans and ex-players say rugby "would be nothing without the physical element." Former England full back Matt Perry said, "If you take the tackle out of rugby and what have you got left? Where do you stop?" Retired England hooker Brian Moore said on Twitter that banning contact rugby until adulthood "effectively precludes full rugby after; it's more dangerous to start unskilled, powerful adults tackling" (REUTERS, 3/2). In London, Ben Quinn reported the RFU is "accused of ignoring the health risks" for children and teen rugby players as a board member of its own Rugby Football Schools Union "came out in favour of a ban on tackling." Board member Adam White "backed a ban as the only way to keep young people safe." He said, "I don’t think there is going to be any change internally within the RFU. It’s still very much an old boys’ network. They have got their ways of doing things and they are very much embedded in the idea of 'This is what rugby is -- it’s a masculine sport and you can be injured walking along the road or feeding your goldfish.'" Admitting his view was "very much a minority one on the board," White said, "[Banning contact in school rugby] would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. They definitely don’t share that view" (GUARDIAN, 3/2). In Sydney, Sygall & Kirby reported the former head of the Australian Medical Association has "warned against blindly following an extraordinary call" in Britain to ban tackling. Professor Kerryn Phelps said that administrators "had a duty of care" to minimize risk to participants and said that authorities "should look objectively at the evidence around injuries in junior rugby players." Phelps, however, added, "If you play sport, every so often you'll get a sports injury. You just have to accept that there will be the risk of injury if you are involved." The Australian Rugby Union "did not immediately respond." Phelps said that the benefits of playing sport "should not be dismissed because of the potential for physical harm." Phelps: "I think there shouldn't be a knee-jerk reaction to what's being proposed in the U.K." (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/2). In London, Ebrey, Larbi & Beer reported the backlash against a call for tackling to be banned "has continued," with one England player describing the demand as "a load of b*******." England prop Joe Marler wrote on Twitter, "Ban tackling in school rugby? What a load of b*******!" Saracens and England scrum half Richard Wigglesworth wrote, "Let’s not give these 70 so called experts the time of day. 70 are outnumbered by 1000’s of ppl with real knowledge on the benefits of rugby!" Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton "added his voice." Sexton has suffered several concussions during his career "and was told by a neurologist last year that he was one more serious blow away from having to consider retirement." Sexton "rubbished the idea" of a tackling ban. Sexton: "I don’t think you can play rugby without tackling. Then, it’s not going to be rugby" (LONDON TIMES, 3/2).
