Rugby injuries

The situation regarding head injuries in rugby should have been a major concern for the game`s authorities for many years, and it should not have taken cases by high-profile players of previous generations to bring it to the fore. Sadly, former player Kearnan Myall appears to be absolutely correct when saying that "many people in the game urgently need educating", certainly if a recent radio interview is anything to go by ("It`s so clear that many people at the top of the game don`t understand",16/12/20)! Someone representing Bath rugby club was last week questioned on the Today radio programme, prior to the club playing Scarlets later in the day. When the subject of head injuries came up, he was adamant everything was under control, concussion was much better understood these days, and players` welfare was number one priority. Not only was there no mention of the "literally countless number of sub-concussive hits", which is Myall`s chief concern, but when asked whether the two players who suffered head injuries in the previous week`s match, would be playing that day, the Bath representative`s reply was ominous;:"only one of them"! It is extremely unlikely there will be any "17 to 19 year olds coming through" in a few years time unless rules are changed very quickly..As Myall fears, if rugby is banned in schools before changes occur, the game will be finished!