A double one on Rugby

[JamieCannister]

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?

I imagine “colouring in, quietly”, though they probably aren’t allowed to use a pencil sharpener unsupervised until sixth form.

Most things in life pose some level of risk. I have a suspected neurodiverse 8 year old. The rugby pitch is the only place I see him truly thrive - he's like a whippet out there and doesn't even glance in my direction for the hour each week he trains. We've tried other sports (football, martial arts, athletics, mountain biking) and nothing else comes close in terms of his engagement and enjoyment. To me, it's absolutely worth the risks to reap the benefits he gets from playing rugby.

On that I would agree - horses are bloody expensive and time consuming and not conducive with studying hard as a teenager (talking from experience).

You are being ridiculous.

Surely it’s up to you as a parent to decide what level of risk is acceptable? I played rugby quite seriously for years. There was one serious concussion of a teammate in that time. I believe it cost her her degree because of the timing right before exams.

I would think carefully before signing my children up to play rugby, but it’s nothing to do with Mumsnet.

inclusive doesn't mean you HAVE to do it even if you hate it.

It means you CAN join in if you want to.

While you can't do ballet, or join so many other sports if you don't have the right body.

Yes, there's a risk, but there's a risk in everything and even more risk in not doing anything. Asking MN to stop promoting rugby is ridiculous. People have even died playing video games, that's hardly a sport.

We cycle to rugby! On the road, which is probably riskier than the 90 minute training session ever could be.

I definitely don't have the right "body"
for ballet (not unless there is some serious reinforcement of the stage).

But I absolutely adore watching my DD play rugby which is much more inclusive of different body shapes.

To be fair to ballet, in adult recreational classes there are actually a wide range of bodies.

It’s teenage “serious” classes that boot you out if your legs are too long or your foot isn’t the right shape, because there is no chance of becoming a professional if you “look wrong”. Which is ludicrous because very few teenage ballerinas will ever get as far as a ballet company, but they could still have fun dancing.

If I was in your position I would feel very torn.

Have you not seen the promoted (paid advert) thread promoting rugby that I have seen for weeks / months on the homepage (it was posted late july and I saw it today, for the umteenth time)?

You can't do rugby if you are blind or have a body that hates contact sports. It is opnly inclusive of some peopel who want to play rugby.

"Free cash" is about the only thing that is truly inclusive.

I am arguing against the nonsensical idea of "inclusive" in this post.

Ds loves rugby. He's out training or at matches 3 or 4 times a week. He never complains, even in the coldest and wettest of weather. I'm happy he's found a sport he loves.

At the same time I'm very aware of the risks. My dad played rugby for 15 years and knew Doddie Weir personally so there's no hiding from that in our family. Ds knows the risks too.

I don't have the answers though. It's a balancing act and a guessing game. Like much of life.

WTF -"rugby is only inclusive to those that want to play rugby "

Is this a serious comment?

Why girls?

Surely girls are far less likely to get serious head injuries that boys and men.

Clearly your not up to date with your para-sports either OP.
Visually impaired rugby is very much a sport like Visually impaired football.

Also wheelchair rugby is awesome and those players are amazing to watch.

what on earth are you on about? I am not entering your nonsense comment about disability, it's offensive.

But tell us, what SPORT is open to any woman of any shape, and what podium show us a team (or opponents) of different abilities and body shape, go on?

Visually impaired rugby is a real Paralympic discipline. And generations of public school boys will confirm that you certainly can be made to do rugby even if you hate it/contact sports.

Ban horse riding while you at it and ballet. Eating disorders are much more prevalent among ballet dancers can lead to premature death and a life time of misery. And the feet, neck and hip injuries. Ban ballet?

Need to ban tiddly winks too - finger strain and all that

Sorry this seems contradictory or perhaps I’m missing something. One the hand you don’t want them playing rugby etc but you say they can do anything they want and you say it would be good if they take risks! It doesn’t make sense

To quote the nurses at my DCs school “”I hate rugby season”. Thankfully once they get a certain age they can opt out.

I’ve had one DC concussed and one off school for 4weeks with a foot injury. The school they go it is academically selective - why rugby (and heading football) is deemed a suitable compulsory activity I have no idea.

Anything they want, because ours are very cautious - if anything it would be good if they took more risks.

You don't say.

But it doesn't have to be one extreme or another. Team sports can be modified to lower risk. In professional men's rugby a lot of the players towards the front in particular are much larger than is healthy for anyone. However fit they are it's huge strain on the heart to be tall and heavy. People don't have to play sport at all to be healthy, being active is the key.

Actually there was an amusing incident in one of my daughter's rugby games where a girl was straightening her ponytail after a tackle. The referee saw her with hands to the head and immediately sent her off for a head injury impact assessment despite her protesting it was only her ponytail.

Meanwhile her team mates were pissing themselves laughing.