Rugby!

My eldest GS plays rugby league. He’s 12 and been playing rugby since he was 7. He started with union but then went onto league which we all prefer. Luckily, he hasn’t had any injuries. He never goes to football matches and I’m glad about that as the culture of football is quite thuggish. We are all RL season ticket holders and there is never any trouble.

Rules for young rugby have changed fortunately as our DGS now plays and loves it.In the day when my son his father played it was awful and I couldn't bear to watch or listen to spectators shouting out threatening abuse.I did warn him he would suffer in later years with all those sprains/taped fingers etc and yes he has deformed joints,nasal problems,back strain but he also has an amazing circle of close friends and very active social life through being involved with the sport

Roll out the Cotten wool eh! No sport is compulsory and they can choose not to do it . My grandson was bullied throughout his primary school ( who were totally useless at dealing with it ) by one particular boy ….then, my daughter enrolled him into a boxing club …which he thoroughly enjoyed , all precautionary measures were taken and he gained in confidence . He then went on to play rugby with a local youth team at 13….. They encouraged him to get stronger by light weights……amazingly the bullying stopped ( I didn’t ask how) ……You don’t do kids any favours by wrapping them in Cotten wool , or girls either! I know our instinct is to do that, but we have to overcome it . He’s 12 your grandson , not 2!
My brother broke his leg playing cricket when he was 12 ….i have had 3 breaks …one by stepping out of my front door !!!
Surely you do not want your grandkids to be coddled. It’s his choice , let him get on with it and CUDDLE him if he gets hurt ,but dont CODDLE him!
My grandson , now 16 , has gone on to play Volleyball and football, two much reasonabley safer sports , until he broke his finger last month ( volleyball) !!!
Life’s a risk …let them live it!!

I never said I could stop him playing rugby just that I deplored the potential risk. Head injuries are rife and long term effects persist or appear long after the event. My friend's husband's apparent dementia turns out to be brain injury from playing rugby at school.
It's cotton wool all the way for me.

And my friend’s husband has persistent and permanent shoulder pain diagnosed as a result of rugby scrums in his youth.

They must have had good strong umbrellas Lexigran not like our little handbag ones. It makes you wonder if the women spectators took them as a cudgle just in case.

Tell him to play on either wing,
and when the ball comes to him,
just pass it straight back to someone else.
BUT tell him to keep "moving" "with the line" then he won't be noticed standing still.

I can't tell him anything. He loves rugby and gets into the thick of it. He scored two tries and two conversions yesterday. He's happy- it's me that's not!