Sir, – As a medical professional with over 20 years of experience and who has just this year become involved in coaching my son’s rugby team, I have been extraordinarily impressed by the huge emphasis placed on safety by the IRFU.
Introduction to the various aspects of the game is done on a phased basis, according to the age of the player, and children are taught how to tackle safely at an early age, so that they acquire good habits before the game becomes more physical as they get older.
There is also huge importance attached to the early recognition and prevention of concussion.
The recent calls for a ban on tackling in school rugby fail to recognise that we live in a free society, and that if parents wish to prevent their children from playing rugby or attend rugby-playing schools, then they are entirely at liberty to do so. – Yours, etc,
CIARAN McDONNELL,
Consultant Vascular
Surgeon,
Mater Misericordiae
University Hospital,
Dublin 7.
A chara, – There are many skills in rugby that encourage teams to find space rather than contact, including change of pace, side-stepping, running at angles, spatial awareness and off-loading. If players are taught these skills and encouraged to use them, the amount of contact decreases hugely. Similarly, if tackling, rucking and scrummaging techniques are taught correctly, the contact aspects of the game are much safer and the risk of injury much lower.
Education is the key aspect here, not alarmist media or medical commentary. – Is mise,
ALEX STAVELEY,
Donabate, Co Dublin.