Secondary school without Rugby

Also Alleyn's (South London)? Again, check, but I have a feeling no rugby there. And Highgate I have a feeling also. Of course all of these involve moving to London, which I realise may not be your preference!

If you're in Bucks are you looking at grammar schools - and if so do they mostly do football rather than rugby?

City of London School for boys? I may be out of date but I thought that it too didn't do rugby - though things can change so do check.

(By the way you're certainly not the only person who has ruled out schools on basis of rugby - safety issues again. Though I do see the point about football and headers.)

I could not find the very shocking article I had read about damage to brains of American football players but this should do for now:

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html

Re Shearer: in fairness footballs weigh less now, but clashes of heads after a corner are not uncommon. All sport carries risks, the question is what is acceptable. I am glad my kids (a St John's ambulance person once told me that womens' rugby can be more dangerous, in part because women tend not to have had the same exposure to skills and safety training that boys who go through youth programmes have) opted for football and did not go to rugby playing schools.

Westwood "some of what i see on the pitches (i recently became coach at rugby in order to be closer to my boys and understand the game/risks better) is sometimes so violent, brutal and not normal for kids of 8/10 years old."

Not my experience. DS is at an independent school and they play tag rugby up to year 7.

Football is also looking like it will come out no better in the longterm as the effects of headers is examined. inews.co.uk/culture/television/alan-shearer-dementia-football-me/

Having watched rugby and football at prep and public schools, I've seen almost as many head injuries from football as rugby!!

Then they aren't doing it right. I've watched football for years and never seen a head injury. Other injuries yes buy not heads.

We are facing a similar problem OP. DS1 hates rugby, but it's compulsory. DS2 loves it and is unfortunately quite good at it, so I'm also starting to look for schools where it isn't played. Unfortunately I haven't found one yet.

Good luck OP. I hope you find a suitable school.

Having watched rugby and football at prep and public schools, I've seen almost as many head injuries from football as rugby!!

Im laughing at Hockey as the alternative.
Back in the 80s a friend ( aged about 20) gave up rugby because his DM was worried about concussion and moved to hockey.

First game he got whacked in the eye, 6 stitches and another concussion

You should probably avoid a school which plays football too as studies are showing that repeated heading of the ball causes similar damage.

Sorry should have said jockeys have the highest incidence of head injuries not CTE.

My son got out of rugby at his secondary school by taking up rowing. It worked out very well and it was the making of him. He became very driven and organised and his school work improved dramatically as well. I was delighted all round and also meant I never had to stress about rugby injuries.

westwood you make interesting points and I think it has to be accepted that allowing our DC’s to participate in any sport which has a well documented risk attached comes down to personal choice.
With regard to skiing at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter how you injury is caused, I personally don’t ski as I don’t fall well (although I have ridden all my life I am very reluctant to fall off) but like most people know friends that do I’m shocked by the seriousness and type of injuries they have had for a sport that they do usually 2 weeks of the year max. Without going into too many details I have seen very significant life changing injuries/accidents in friends who ski I can’t say Ive ever seen these type of injuries in those playing rugby.
I guess I’m lucky my DS’s are not team sports players and for personal reasons one will never ski and the other is not interested. So I’ve never had to worry about it, but one rides and the stats imply it is a highish risk sport and both cycle on roads and that is a high risk activity 3000+ deaths or serious injuries a year although only approx 100 deaths. I strongly discourage an interest in motorbikes which statistics demonstrate make rugby look like a teddy bears tea party when it comes to risk of life changing/life threatening injury approx 360 deaths a year and 5000+ serious injuries
Having said this I rightly or wrongly take the view that there is risk in sobmany aspects of life I guess it’s what level of risk we’re comfortable with and perhaps what our previous experiences are; in another life (when I wasn’t tired greying and slightly overweight) I used to be very involved in the horrendous injuries bikers sustained in the Super Bike at Brands so have a bit of a thing about motorbikes.
Regarding Dr Pollocks book the stats I found said jockeys have the highest risk of CTE. Although as we all know that stats can be with careful interpretation can be made to support an argument (by both sides) but it also needs to be acknowledged that NHS England currently are not supporting a ban on rugby union for school children.

Not all sports are dangerous and there is no way that football is more dangerous than football.

Kimbolton doesn't play Rugby (Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border).

Although we chose a secondary school for my ds particularly because of Rugby which he loves. My dh believes there are more lasting injuries from football.

I actually think that's really mean. You've allowed your boys to start playing rugby & they love it & now you want to stop. Obviously we all want to keep our children safe, but good parenting also means allowing them to flourish & take risks. All sports are dangerous.

So much depends on the attitude to rugby and head injuries of the school you’re considering. I know one independent school which takes rugby seriously and an excellent record of success but also employ HCPs whose job it is to monitor pupils and implement the RFU return to play guidelines. Players are assessed before the season start and regularly assessed during the rugby season, pupils are regularly put off rugby for month following even a very very minor head injury and only allowed to play once a doctor is totally satisfied that it is safe. This applies to all pupils regardless of how good a player you are or however much pressure the pupil parents or coach is applying.
In contrast other schools play lip service to the RFU guildlines, cave in under pressure from coaches pupils or parents and let pupils return to rugby within days following a significant minor head injury.

OP it’s worth asking what an individuals schools policy is or talk directly to the medical centre (if youre considering boarding) to ascertain what their views/policy is.

I am expecting to get flamed, and the culture problems may not be universal. Earlier in the week I took the overseas son of a friend out for lunch with my two student DC. They soon found a common topic in comparing the behaviour of their respective University's rugby clubs, with initiation ceremonies, University sanctions and penalties and so on. The last hang-out of the Neanderthals?

Aside from football I suspect all sports may be struggling with recruitment, especially of kids who don't go to private school. For a range of reasons, though I would point the finger at the early entry point for pathways. If you don't start a sport like hockey whilst at Primary school, which implies your parents encouraged you, it is often too late to rise through Club and County ranks. No room for those who only come to it via secondary school sport. And though there are a number of good and dedicated coaches out there, each sport has its idiots. And schools may not know enough to be able to spot them.

I know a surgeon who says he has seen injuries sixteen year olds have siffered playing rugby which they'll have for life.
I don't like the culture either. They may be polite to the ref on the pitch but so many can be absolute arseholes off the pitch.

Needmore I like your user name, DS1 plays RU now, we call it going to the darkside. He loves playing and it suits his style of game. we all prefer watching RL. But to be fair to both codes they are really trying to deal with head injuries. Believe me when I say we as a family have stood many times whilst games rightly are stopped for any form of injury, but especially head injuries. Players involved routinely taken off and not allowed back on.
Ds2 plays football now, with his school friends, and only in last game before Christmas, two boys clashed heads and one collided head first with opposition goalie and 4g pitch. It was only because a coach for opposition is a schoolteacher and coaches rugby, that the game was stopped. All 3 players continued playing. Wife's cousins DD's play hockey. their goalie dd is regularly hit on her head and continues.
I saw a number of Gp's last year asking football to ban young children heading balls. Don't remember masses of parents saying don't want a school which plays football.
I am a coach and still help out if needed, yes there are idiots coaching, but I think they are slowing dying out. Sadly both codes face player shortages, mainly from parents who fear injury.
But I would say rugby league and union, have taught both sons total respect, teamwork and self worth
Eldest is 17, 6ft 3 in 13.5 stones, to see him call all referees sir and say sorry to team mates when he gets penalised is impressive, also he regularly stops any fights/disagreements. I certainly don't see that too often on football pitches'
I truly think rugby is 100 times safer than when I played. Thankfully

"It’s often considered good for pulling in more middle class families"

I am surprised. Princess Diana apparently wanted to avoid compulsory rugby for sons, and she was very far from alone. There are two things. Both the rugby itself, and would that all sports coaches, not just rugby, were as careful as the ones user describes, and the rugger-bugger type culture that can invade. Great for those who belong, but many parents want a school where different talents and successes are celebrated equally.

The issue with rugby is not injury per se, but the risk of concussion. Hockey and football have real and obvious injury risks. And indeed individual sports like tennis, gymnastics and golf can put real strains on growing bodies.

I am also with User on Rugby League, a much more entertaining game, and without the sense that you need to be "one of us".

No rugby at all, or would you be OK with 'rugby can be given up completely after a first term, unless selected for a team'?

Because if you move to London, you could add Alleyns to the list for none at all, and Dulwich College if one term is bearable (excellent programme of other sports to opt for)