'A lot of members I speak to will say 'don't change the game, don't make it less physical'
A planned lawsuit by former players suffering from early onset dementia could be the catalyst for further measures to protect current professionals being accelerated, according to an official at the Rugby Players Association.
A group of what is now understood to be 10 former players is set to launch an action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union.
Among them is Steve Thompson, 42, a World Cup winner with England in 2003 who now says he has no recollection of playing in that competition.
Christian Day, who joined Northampton a year after Thompson had left the club, now works as a player liaison officer at the RPA.
He believes great strides have already been taken since Thompson’s playing days but admits the game “can’t sit still”.
“We have to continue to innovate and look for ways to keep the essence of rugby the same, that’s so, so important,” he told the PA news agency.
“A lot of members I speak to will say ‘don’t change the game, don’t make it less physical, that’s what I’m good at, that’s rugby’, but can we make elements of the game that are currently dangerous safer? That’s the magic question and what so much work is going towards.
“And I just wonder whether this lawsuit might be the catalyst for some rapid changes in certain areas that perhaps wouldn’t otherwise happen.”
Day says measures to limit in-game concussions and placing an upper limit on the amount of contact training is “low-hanging fruit” that could be introduced quite quickly.
“The high tackle framework was brought in about 12 months ago to quite some derision from some corners of past players and the media, who said it was making the game soft. I think that’s a term that needs to be firmly put in the bin.
“The game isn’t soft and rugby will never be soft, but we need to move away from the idea that hitting people in the head is something that we should tolerate.
“The high tackle framework has made some difference but there will now probably be calls that it should go further.”
The lawsuit calls for a limit on the amount of contact training, and Day agrees.
“You could have players being exposed to countless contacts in a training session, which will never fully be recognised or picked up the way they would in a game,” he said.
“So my personal take is that regulation of the amount of contact that players can do is a positive step for the game, and it’s something I suspect will now be accelerated as a result of this lawsuit.”
Day accepted better player aftercare, one of the ’15 commandments’ set out by the former players’ legal team, was required.
“Our charity Restart does some amazing work, but they tend to be for players who experience terrible injuries or who fall into real times of hardship,” he said.
What a sad state of affairs. https://t.co/GwD5oA8olf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2020
“Maybe the point is, do we need something to pick up underneath that grade of hardship? The answer probably is yes. The question again then comes, who’s going to fund that?”
Exeter boss Rob Baxter has made a robust defence of rugby union’s concussion measures and claims there is “little value” in comparing the issue now with historic cases in the sport.
“I’m not quite sure how many more (safety measures) we can put in because of how much is done around concussion now,” he said.
“…I think people are being a little disingenuous if they’re not prepared to say about the huge steps we’ve already taken.”
Rob Baxter has launched a staunch defence of rugby's concussion protocols. https://t.co/Uq5ExYaybh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2020
“People don’t realise that you are likely to fail a HIA (head injury assessment) without having any head injury at all.
“That’s how hard it is to pass. To get back on a field you have to be feeling well and cognitively bang on – you’ll be asked something you don’t know.
“We are a very good sport at jumping on something and creating something huge.
“There’s no reason not to have discussions about this. But I think people are being a little disingenuous if they’re not prepared to say about the huge steps we’ve already taken.”
Comments on RugbyPass
There should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
41 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
29 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
41 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
29 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
41 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
29 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
29 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to comments