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AIBU?

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Original poster

A double one on Rugby

163 replies

JamieCannister · 06/10/2025 09:03

AIBU to say that Mumsnet is putting girls at risk by allowing the promotion on rugby on this site?

AIBU to say that given the risks of head injuries children under 18 (or maybe people with not-yet-fully-developed brains under 25) should not be allowed to consent to play contact rugby?

OP posts:
Original poster
JamieCannister · 06/10/2025 09:30

The risks are much more about playing long term - my concern is not so much kids getting head injuries or cauing themselves long term harm, but rather -

(1) If you aren't going to take rugby seriously then there are lots of other sports one could play (including 5 a side football if you have concerns about heading in 11 a side football).

(2) If you are going to take it seriously you may play for decades and are at much increased risk of the most serious conditions which massively reduce life-span.

I do not understand why someone would say "rugby was dangerous, but it's all cool now"... I completely believe it is getting safer but that is very different from saying that it is safe or the risk are acceptable (when compared to the alternative - not playing rugby, which is literally no skin off anyone's nose give how many other sports exist).

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 06/10/2025 09:30

Dead right OP. Instead you should make them sit on a couch watching tv, or playing on a PlayStation or computer. Or, if you believe these are bad for them, then just make them sit and stare at the wall.

It’s all about risk. There’s virtually nothing in life risk free, trust me, I’ve seen pretty much enough to confidently say that. I believe they have modified rules in the junior sport to alleviate most of this risk. However, they could be running along, trip over their own feet, fall down with a direct head injury in the wrong place and die, seen a few of these over the decades. So, maybe they could just walk while they play and same for all other sports and people who jog/run🤣. Also, do t walk on pavements, I’ve had a few of these hit and killed by drivers who took their eyes off road/lost control. And a million other things.

parietal · 06/10/2025 09:28

I work in neuroscience and have colleagues who study head injuries and brain function in athletes. There is no way I’d let my kids do any contact sport with high risk of collision. Including boxing, rugby, headers in football etc. it is not just the big injuries that are a problem. Lots of smaller head collisions can still add up to have effects on the brain.

yanbu

StayJammy · 06/10/2025 09:26

The 'Headcase' scheme is VERY strict on head injury recovery.

My kids are annoyed by it, but absolutely understand why it's in place!

So, no, don't be daft !

Glittertwins · 06/10/2025 09:24

100 % unreasonable

jeaux90 · 06/10/2025 09:23

This reply has been deleted

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Goodadvice1980 · 06/10/2025 09:19

Don’t forget to also ban crossing the road … just in case!

fruitbrewhaha · 06/10/2025 09:17

Don’t be daft. It’s a great game and has many positives to outweigh the risk of injury. Theres such an amazing community behind rugby, there’s a place for everyone be you tall and fast or chunky and strong. It’s so positive for women who don’t fit the mould. ND kids are over represented at the club too. Why would you want to take that away?

Bobiverse · 06/10/2025 09:15

ILikeBigBookssandIcannotlie · 06/10/2025 09:11

I wouldn't let my child play it. But I guess everyone has different priorities.

Have headers been banned in youth football now?

The MND links are worrying too. Although I know there are links to other causes eg pesticides so I guess it could be linked to chemicals used to treat the pitches as much as it could be to repeated head trauma.

We have someone local to us who is a retired professional footballer with severe dementia now. Every now and then we have to help him find his way home.

My kids have played rugby for 12 years. Not a single head injury. I think the club has only had 1 or 2 head injuries in any of the youth teams over the time my kids have been playing.

It’s changed. There are lots of new rules around tackling and it is very enforced.

ILikeBigBookssandIcannotlie · 06/10/2025 09:11

I wouldn't let my child play it. But I guess everyone has different priorities.

Have headers been banned in youth football now?

The MND links are worrying too. Although I know there are links to other causes eg pesticides so I guess it could be linked to chemicals used to treat the pitches as much as it could be to repeated head trauma.

We have someone local to us who is a retired professional footballer with severe dementia now. Every now and then we have to help him find his way home.

Scottishskifun · 06/10/2025 09:09

YABU OP on 2 levels and showing that you have very little knowledge in what is being done on world rugby and youth level rugby to make big reductions in head injuries including reducing the tackle height.

GreenWheat · 06/10/2025 09:06

Errm, no.

Bobiverse · 06/10/2025 09:05

Do bore off.