The end of the road for the 'rugby's gone soft brigade'
The recent revelation by former players of the horrors of their head injuries could be the final nail in the coffin for what has been dubbed the ‘rugby’s gone soft brigade’.
Former England hooker Steve Thompson, 42, and Wales flanker Alix Popham, 41, were two players that revealed their diagnosis of early onset dementia following multiple head injuries and concussions throughout their careers.
The players’ distressing accounts of memory loss are a stark reminder of the collateral damage that comes with playing professional rugby, and the fears are that the list of players with such problems will grow. Thompson, for instance, has no recollection of being part of England’s 2003 World Cup triumph.
However, as World Rugby have tried to make the game safer and introduce structures to prevent head injuries over the past ten years, their plans have often been met by a chorus of grumbles and complaints that the game is going soft.
But the view from masses of people online is that these chastening cases are irrefutable proof that the game has not gone soft. It was published in The Times last year that the average weight of Six Nations rugby players has increased by 25% since 1955, with the professional era obviously playing a role in the rapid increase in the size of players. The laws around the tackle may have become more stringent and draconian, but the ferocity of collisions have increased too.
The main point that is being made online is that even if some do believe the game is getting softer, the long term head injuries that players are suffering are a grossly unfair price to pay for allowing more reckless tackles.
Though the research and focus around head injuries has increased over the past decade, Thompson and Popham were part of the generation playing in the early years of professionalism that did not benefit from the measures in place to prevent these injuries. That is why they and a group of former internationals are planning legal action for negligence against the rugby authorities over brain injuries they have suffered, as rugby appears to be reaching a tipping point.
https://twitter.com/rava_ian/status/1336351185381552131?s=20
And there are still dinosaurs out there who claim the game has gone soft and can’t understand the fuss around high hits and concussion.
Over a year ago I tweeted that rugby was potentially facing a crisis. It seems that moment is closer.
— Philip Davies #FBPE ??????? (@Sosban_in_Exile) December 8, 2020
Rugby has serious issues around phrases like “Games gone soft” from former players working in media
It’s biggest issue is referees are too inconsistent. They need to be ruthless around head contact especially
Player behaviour when tackling needs to be improved greatly
— Neil Mulvey (@MulveyNeil) December 9, 2020
But of course “the games gone soft”. No. This is a serious reckoning. Fear the game won’t survive it, sincerely hope it does by changing
— Laurie M (@laurie_1M) December 8, 2020
Hopefully this will be a reality check for ‘the game’s gone soft’ brigade, including some well know former players. And some current elite refs need to sharpen their application of the HTF and not look for reasons to avoid cards
— Ian Thomas (@exiledholdfast) December 8, 2020
Shows why rugby needs to have a zero tolerance to contact with head/neck.
And also a massive blow to the Games Gone Soft brigade.
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) December 8, 2020
Concussion/Dementia – I hope that we don’t shy away from information, research and analysis and that the power of that insight goes into making our game safer rather than killing it. Please don’t tell me “rugby’s gone soft” though.
— Arron Ludlam (@Arron1970) December 8, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Mind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to comments