Multiple past players admit to not wearing a mouth guard in wake of Ardie Savea debate
New Zealand Rugby have received support from the public for saying how “incredibly disappointed” it was in Ardie Savea for not wearing a mouthguard as he is a role model for younger generations.
The issue was first raised this season when the No.8 was seen not wearing a mouthguard in the Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland, but was seen again last weekend without one in the loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Given the peculiar nature of this reprimand, there are some who see this as a non-issue, as Savea is a grown man and a mouthguard is not obligatory in rugby. Indeed players ranging from former internationals to amateurs have said that they did not, or do not, use one, many of whom have also provided anecdotes as to why they regret that decision.
I never wore a mouth guard. It’s advised but not legal. Am I wrong? https://t.co/58pd8FjwtW
— Jim (@jimhamilton4) November 11, 2020
All I know is, Martin Johnson didn’t wear one.
— Jim (@jimhamilton4) November 11, 2020
I’ve never worn one. ??
— Jordan Crane (@JordanCrane86) November 11, 2020
My nose didn’t work so never could. https://t.co/jaLwnOVWOG
— Tom May (@TomMay1) November 11, 2020
Me too big fella. 4 dead front teeth to deal with now though ?
— Andrew Hazell (@andyhazell) November 11, 2020
Though World Rugby states that mouthguards are permitted, they are not required. However, this is an internal affair as it is stated in the Collective Agreement between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Rugby Players Collective that “a player agrees to wear a mouthguard in the course of playing rugby for a New Zealand team or when contact training.”
So while some have said that this should have been dealt with internally and not made public, it has been stressed that Savea is a role model.
When bearing that in mind, rebuking the loose forward discreetly is nigh on pointless, as this is a circumstance where action must be seen to be done in order to set an example and ensure the safety of younger players.
Savea is certainly not a player that would flout this agreement for the sake of it, and previously chose not to wear one in the past due to breathing difficulties. But this is not the first time he has been flagged for not wearing one, neither is he the only player, and he will know the responsibility he carries as an All Black.
I don’t think it’s a case of whether it’s legal or not it’s the fact as a collective the team decided they all would wear them, he’s gone off as an individual.
— LSH1986 (@hadley700) November 11, 2020
I think the whole point is that he is a role model to kids… and we are trying to make the game safer so that more kids play at grass routes and grow the game.
— Jake Kinsail (@jakekinsail) November 11, 2020
But I guess its a role model thing. Different time as well though maybe. Pre concussion protocols etc when safety wasn’t quite as at the forefront of people’s minds?
— Nick Auger (@NickAuger88) November 11, 2020
It’s also the example he sets to other players and younger generations who want to ‘be like their hero’ as possible dental trauma can be so severe in rugby. Also minor point, but if his teeth made contact with another player in an impact situation, can do a lot of damage to them
— James White (@JamesRW95) November 11, 2020
Everyone talking about protecting teeth, but it is also a strong protection against concussion and any long term brain damage as it is a shock absorber to the brain if you get a thump on the mouth/chin.
— Lex Hipkins (@RicHowUK) November 11, 2020
We talk about laws and refs protecting players – how about players protecting themselves? @wadesgotit #worsethanhightackle ? #rucktime
— Travis (@wanderingTrav) November 11, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
1 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
12 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
1 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
1 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
16 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
16 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to comments