A double one on Rugby

You have the right to have an opinion.
It doesn't make you right or relevant 😂.

Don't encourage your kids to practice any sport, the risks of being inactive are way worst, but each to their own.

You might want to start researching the effect of child birth, carcinogen, inactivity, depression and anything that affect mental health negatively. You are in for a treat.

So unreasonable. Rugby is such an inclusive sport for all ages and sexes.

Look OP, we get it. You hate rugby and everything that it represents. However, not everyone shares your view. The sport at minis age groups doesn't consist of much more than a bunch of children running around in the fresh air chucking a ball around anyway. Head injuries, whether actual or suspected, are taken extremely seriously these days. But you won't be interested in hearing that.

The riskiest sport, by far, for young people to be involved in is equestrian sport. And yet we never get these sort of hand-wringing posts about eventing.

🙄

Unfortunately the MND is particularly associated with athletes and those that professional or intensively exercise a lot. It is not especially associated with rugby players, equally effects football players and intensive gym goers and is not related to impacts to the head.

On the other hand a lack of exercise will cause other health issues.

As with all things exercise or alcohol or in my case Galaxy chocolate bars - it should be "everything in moderation "

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57431412?app-referrer=webview

DS plays. He’s 9. It’s such an incredibly supportive and encouraging environment.

He is short, skinny and quite sensitive, so definitely not your average rugby player. But there is none of the machismo you get with football. The coaches are really supportive and build the kids up. The dads shouting on the touchline are shouting positive things and clap both sides’ tries. The matches aren’t even scored at this age because it really isn’t about winning or losing. And honestly it is nice for a boy who is an only child to have other boys who like jumping all over each other and having that physical contact. And it is nice to have a sport to follow on TV (playing age grade rugby makes 6 nations seem more relatable)

I doubt he’ll carry on into secondary school because he is small and skinny and once the other kids hit puberty the size difference won’t be fun for him. But for the minute, it is great for him. No injuries in his age group so far, there are 50 of them and they have been playing for 4 years.

You’re being unreasonable on both counts. Both my sons played from ages 8/9 right up until they were in their 20s. It was their choice and loved it. They have formed life long friendships and learned the value of teamwork. As long as children are playing for a club that is affiliated to the RFU then there are guidelines and regulations in place relating to safety etc.
OP, what would you do if your child was at a school where rugby was part of the PE curriculum? Do your children ride bikes etc.
We can’t wrap our children up in cotton wool.

Have you deliberately decided today's the day for a thread like this when one of England's past rugby captains has just announced he has MND?

Seems a little insensitive and poor taste to start the baiting.

We don't all want to raise a bunch of milksops.

Many rugby players never get even one head injury.

I hope you don't let your children ride bikes, or scooters.

My daughter started rugby last year. She now plays u10 with the boys as well as on the girls team. I can’t even tell you how much it’s increased her confidence. She’s strong, happy and fierce. She plays contact but no head injuries so far. Definitely fewer injuries than her football playing older brother.

both my kids do boxing too so you’d probably be horrified by me

Have headers been banned in youth football now?

Yes. Certainly for up to U10, no idea when it changes though.

What we now know about The risks from repeated head injuries in football as well as rugby and boxing would make me deter any child of mine from participating

how we keep such sports and reduce the risk to more acceptable levels I don’t know ?

I got bad concussion after falling off a chair.

Theres risks everywhere in life. A sport which takes injury seriously is better than outright banning things and not teaching how to be safe.

Rugby has got much stricter about head contact and head injuries. but it’s probably come much too late. Just heard this morning Lewis moody (England international player) has been diagnosed with MND.

I am sure we can both list all sorts of sports and outdoor activities which do not present the same risks

The nastiest injury mine have suffered was from one playing a non-contact sport. Surgeries, ongoing orthopaedic specialty care for the better part of a year. So, none of this is foolproof.