Interesting article about concussion in rugby

[nelly sham]

That's the most athletic thing Cian Healy has done in 15 years.
Usually he's burst after the pre game warmup.

 

[greengrass]

It would be interesting to compare MND rates among rugby players pre ,oh say 1980s? when you had small quick backs and reasonably sized forwards, not the behemoths that we have in every position today. The problem seems to have mushroomed with the increasing size of players.?

 

[Lee Bushwacker]

It would be interesting to compare MND rates among rugby players pre ,oh say 1980s? when you had small quick backs and reasonably sized forwards, not the behemoths that we have in every position today. The problem seems to have mushroomed with the increasing size of players.?

Back in the 1980s tackles were usually made to the opponent's lower body so there was far less head contact.

 

[Pooman]

It would be interesting to compare MND rates among rugby players pre ,oh say 1980s? when you had small quick backs and reasonably sized forwards, not the behemoths that we have in every position today. The problem seems to have mushroomed with the increasing size of players.?

I think anybody with even a passing interest in the sport has been hugely concerned by the increase in player size at all levels over the last 20/30 years.

 

[greengrass]

I think anybody with even a passing interest in the sport has been hugely concerned by the increase in player size at all levels over the last 20/30 years.

But if it's so obvious why doesn't somebody shout stop.Perhaps there is too much at stake financially??

 

[El Guapo]

But if it's so obvious why doesn't somebody shout stop.Perhaps there is too much at stake financially??

In fairness Rugby cannot be accused of not taking concussion seriously.

Plenty of Ex players and pundits yes but the people actually in power know well, the game has been transformed in the last 5 years or so from a player welfare perspective

Rugby's Major issue is that plenty of parents have shouted stop and the pool of kids taking up the sport is getting small in places like Limerick and Cork

 

[Carmona]

But if it's so obvious why doesn't somebody shout stop.Perhaps there is too much at stake financially??

Stop training, stop gym work, protein and other supplements, and eh, OTHER supplements. Put a weight limit in place? None of that is feasible or going to happen.

 

[How bad boy]

In fairness Rugby cannot be accused of not taking concussion seriously.

Plenty of Ex players and pundits yes but the people actually in power know well, the game has been transformed in the last 5 years or so from a player welfare perspective

Rugby's Major issue is that plenty of parents have shouted stop and the pool of kids taking up the sport is getting small in places like Limerick and Cork

HIA protocols were first introduced in 2012. The high tackle sanction framework was introduced in 2019.

I think those two were the biggest signs that rugby is taking this seriously.

You're right though, I'm exactly at that point with my eldest, he's a very, very big young fella. He loves rugby. He'd like to play and I'm really not sure I want him to, due to all of this research. I'd like to see more data on the positive impacts of the changes made.

 

[Corkfan82]

In fairness Rugby cannot be accused of not taking concussion seriously.

Plenty of Ex players and pundits yes but the people actually in power know well, the game has been transformed in the last 5 years or so from a player welfare perspective

Rugby's Major issue is that plenty of parents have shouted stop and the pool of kids taking up the sport is getting small in places like Limerick and Cork

Due to the nature of the game and the collisions, its a positive that players are being stood down due to concussions etc.

However, that players general health could be toast later on in life due to concussions / MND and CTE.

Its unbelievably sad hearing of former players being affected.

Its a big ask for parents to accept this risk.

 

[dukeroyale]

on the scrum cap…

a book or a podcast i was listening to a while ago was on about boxing gloves and how due to concussions and boxer’s safety (not that anyone gives a fuck about that once the money is flying around) they made the gloves a few grams heavier with more padding. a lovely idea but all it led to was boxers hitting even harder because they wouldn’t injure their hands as easy. that would put the scrum cap theory to bed because lads would probably go in harder.

i’ve never played a rugby game in my life bar a few touch games for a laugh. i’ve played football, aussie rules and american football. i’ve had my clock cleaned in all of those in one form or another. even soccer there were a few matches where i walked off wondering what happened earlier it’s not a great feeling.

i came home one evening after surfing for a few hours and my missus asked “what happened?” because i looked shook. i just lay down and after about half an hour just started puking. i knew there and then i had a concussion and she drove me to the hospital. luckily no swelling or bleeding after doing a ct scan. i know i drove home from
the coast that day because i was on my own but have no idea how i did it. i’m not even sure what happened.

concussion is actually scary as fuck once you think back on it and don’t remember.