Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Would you let your daughter play rugby????

40 replies

MUMINAMILLION · 20/09/2004 18:41

dd2 who is 9, plays with a local mixed-sex rugby team. She absolutely loves it and is very very good. She can run like a whippet and has no fear whatsoever. She is very small but can bring down boys double her size and strength (might come in handy once she's older and looking for a bloke! ).

However, she has no sense of danger and has already been thrown through the air and landed on her arm. Fortunately she didnt break it - this time. What I am really worried about is that one day she will break her nose. Would you let your daughter play rugby or some other close-contact sport?

OP posts:
nutcracker · 20/09/2004 18:43

Erm, not sure really. They are only 6 and 4 at the mo.

I suppose i wouldn't really want them to, but if they really loved it then i suppose i would let them.

Yorkiegirl · 20/09/2004 18:43

Message withdrawn

TraceyP · 20/09/2004 18:46

If she enjoyed it and was being taught to play properly then yes, I would, although dd is only 3 so it's a long way off. Anything which encourages children to exercise and enjoy activity is a good thing, it's better that she play something she enjoys than be forced to play a sport she hates.

coppertop · 20/09/2004 18:49

If I had a daughter then yes I would. I hated being only allowed to play netball at school and would have loved the chance to play rugby. I had to settle for karate outside of school hours.

lou33 · 20/09/2004 19:02

Dd2 asked if she could do it the other day, which if you know her is , quite frankly ridiculous, because she is the girliest girl of girls, and would run off sobbing at the first sign of a tackle.

lou33 · 20/09/2004 19:03

If I thought she would enjoy it though I would. Dd1 used to love playing footie, but her collagen deficiency meant she couldn't go in the school team.

hercules · 20/09/2004 19:04

I would encourage her. I want her to be able to stand up for herself and not be afraid of physical contact.

acnebride · 20/09/2004 19:14

lou33, isn't kids rugby 'touch rugby' so no tackles? dunno.

Would let a notional dd do this, but am really hoping that no child of mine likes it, because of having to stand around in the winter, also risks when they are older,

lou33 · 20/09/2004 19:59

No idea, but she isn't supposed to do hi impact sports. She also wants to do judo.

suedonim · 20/09/2004 21:52

I nearly had a hissy fit when I found that dd1 was to do rugby at school because a friend's son had died of a brain haemorrage after receiving a head injury in a rugby match. However, the school told me they only play non-contact rugby, so I was somewhat mollified. As it was, dd never actually did play rugby, for various reasons but I can't say I was wild about any of mine, girls or boys, playing it.

lou33 · 20/09/2004 22:00

My father had countless injuries from rugby. Glad it would be non contact. Maybe I will have a rethink.

Original poster
MUMINAMILLION · 20/09/2004 22:04

The rugby she plays is contact! Dont know if that is just a Scottish thing tho. Im glad she is keeping fit, but I wish there was a less dangerous way to do it! I just feel guilty about having to stop her doing something she so obviously enjoys and is good at.

OP posts:
suedonim · 20/09/2004 22:23

We're in Scotland, too, MIAM, but it's definitely non-contact rugby in this area. Maybe it varies by education authority?

pixiefish · 20/09/2004 22:57

I did when I was in school

Original poster
MUMINAMILLION · 20/09/2004 23:06

Did you break your nose pixiefish?????????

OP posts:
jasper · 21/09/2004 00:38

would not let my SON play rugby!

Original poster
MUMINAMILLION · 21/09/2004 08:05

Right, have made my decision. Am going to have to stop her playing and find something else for her to do. She will be so disapppointed, but it will be for the best. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
susanmt · 21/09/2004 10:10

Yes! I played women's rugby at University and I loved it. LOVED it! I only wish there was a local women's team where I live.

Anything that gets a girl out playing any sport is fabulous.
Generally, women don't get the type of rugby injuries men do. Women are a bit more into the speed and evasion side of things, where men seem to like the 'contact'

I was a prop. Always wished I couls have said I was a hooker

secur · 21/09/2004 10:23

Message withdrawn

Bibiboo · 21/09/2004 10:26

I would let my girl play - dh is a PE teacher and there are girls who play full contact rugby in their mixed team - not many mind you. I am not a sporty type at all and hated it at school, but would never stop my child participating in a sport she loved. All sports carry risks, I should imagine some pretty serious and longer lasting injuries could be sustained doing gymnastics and girls seem to be encouraged to do that.
Don't get me started on ballet ...

hatter · 21/09/2004 10:30

Can I ask why you are concerned about her breaking her nose (as opposed to any other injury)and if you would feel the same if she were a boy? It sounds a bit like you are concerned for her appearance and it sounds a bit (and I honestly apologise if I am wrong) that you are more concerned about her appearance because she is a girl. If it was me, I would probably have to think hard about any young child of mine playing contact rugby. But if I came to the conclusion that it was ok for a boy then it would be ok for a girl. I would be worried about sending a message to a girl that her appearance was more important than a boy's appearance and more important than her enjoyment of a sport. And I honestly honestly apologise if I am wrong.

Original poster
MUMINAMILLION · 21/09/2004 10:45

Oh good grief, so confused now. Hatter, yes I am worried about her damaging her looks - cant help it as she is such a beautiful little thing, and for girls you cannot deny that looks are important! However, I am not so shallow as to just be concerned about that, and I have never given her looks as a reason for stopping playing when we have discussed it as I do not want her to think that looks are all-important. I dont know how I would feel about a boy being a rugby player, as I do not have any, but I think I would be just as concerned. She really throws herself into the game, literally, and tackles boys much heavier than herself with no fear. I am worried she is going to seriously injure herself one day.

OP posts:
Original poster
MUMINAMILLION · 21/09/2004 11:05

Hatter, sorry sorry sorry. Am a little on edge today. I have re-read thread and can see why you thought what you did. My reasons do come over as being shallow and superficial, didnt mean it to but maybe I am a little after all. Just want what is best for my girls.

OP posts:
hatter · 21/09/2004 12:54

no need to be sorry! I tried to be a bit cagey about how I put my point coz I suspected that even though you did refer specifically to a broken noise that your main concern was, of course, injury more generally and I really didn't want to offend. I kind of agree with Bibiboo's point about sport in general and there always being a risk. But I would have to see for myself what contact rugby with kids was like and would do a bit of research into the likelihood of injuries and into referee-ing standards (don't know much about Rugby, but believe that poor refereeing can sometimes lead to injury). If you feel unsure about it all can you dress this up as an opportunity to try something different?

hatter · 21/09/2004 12:54

that is, of course, meant to say broken nose

Swipe left for the next trending thread