Rugby

Both my grandsons play Rugby and they absolutely love it but great care is taken by the club of all the players to what is age appropriate.

I can understand it but remember most players don’t get injured. Unfortunately we can’t protect them all the time though we wish we could. I seem to be more fearful about my grandchildren than I ever was with my children.

Our younger son played Rugby from the age of 8, until 22. In his local club team he played in the Colt national leagues.
At Uni he played for his OTC.
Yes he did get injured at times and had to have a knee operation when he was 16, which only encouraged him to get match fit for the next season. There are now very strict rules on tackling and gamesmanship.
I would say that the psychological training involving team spirit, resilience and personal determination was worth all the bumps and scrapes.
I will add that he knew when to stop playing after one too many dislocated shoulders.

We have rugby league here as well as union and sad to say many of the amateur players are thugs and injuries are common. One of the men at work, who played as a boy, encouraged his 14 year old son to play for an amateur side and the son stopped playing when a player stamped on him, while the referee looked on. The son never played again, no surprises, and changed to football instead.
Myself, I had no aptitude at rugby at school( union in schools locally) and a lot of us saw no point in it as we were forced to play a sport we disliked. Rugby of either kind probably does encourage team spirit and character building, but only for kids who enjoy it.

It does seem very violent despite pious words from coaches. Social media doesn't help. Boys post pics of other team's members with targets on them and collude to 'take out' certain players.
Just school 'sport' these days.
Unfortunately, I've just heard this morning's report and DGS played brilliantly and was named man of the match. Will just have to smile bravely and congratulate him.

Aveline

It does seem very violent despite pious words from coaches. Social media doesn't help. Boys post pics of other team's members with targets on them and collude to 'take out' certain players.
Just school 'sport' these days.
Unfortunately, I've just heard this morning's report and DGS played brilliantly and was named man of the match. Will just have to smile bravely and congratulate him.

Well done your GS.
Even amateur teams have to abide by the rules, young thugs on and off the park should be and can be banned from from playing.
I totally agree that no one should be forced to take part in a sport they hate. I can swim, but it takes a lot to get me into a pool as I remember dreading the school swimming lessons.
The secondary schools that I know around here seem to have an enlightened attitude of having a wide variety of sports for pupils to choose from.

It's the long term damage that worries me and yes I have a GS who plays. So many with MND or Parkinson's, I suppose I won't live to see what happens.

I used to dread Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays.
We did get a phone call once to tell us our son was at A&E with a member of staff.
We were 200 miles away.
It was a broken collar bone.
He then went to university and then to work in another country and played so that was another 8 years of worrying.

Finally a knee injury means he now only coaches…..phew!

My son played rugby at school and uni . At uni , it wasn’t just the injuries to worry about , but the high jinks fuelled by alcohol after the match .

More to worry about. 🙁

When my twon sons started playing rugby at school I insured them against serious accidents, not scrapes and bumps but breaks, debilitating injuries. I was a nervous wreck. Luckiky never had any injuries.

I would feel the same as you.
A friend’s husband needed two hip replacements in his early forties as a result of multiple rugby injuries at university.

What can you do though as his dad is keen and has warned you not to say anything ?

I guess you just have to tell yourself that, statistically, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be absolutely fine.

Both my gc, boy and girl play rugby as their father is keen. We went to watch a match of 12 year olds and were shocked at the level of rough and tough behaviour on the field.
I feel exactly like you Aveline.

My grand daughter aged 16, is at a sports College and plays rugby sponsored by Saracens. She twisted her ankle last month but makes light of it. Her younger sister of 13 plays for the Minis.
My son played at school and never had an injury.
They are all quite nimble and quick, perhaps that’s why they are all in one piece !

My DH and both our sons played rugby (union) and absolutely loved it. The friendliness and camaraderie of their teams was amazing. None of them play any more, but regularly still get together with their rugby mates (they played together from age 7). I did used to worry that they might get injured (and when adult players they did!) but there was the consolation that I knew they could 'look after themselves' when out in town in the evening with their friends (sad, but a real worry these days). Our 7 year old grandson now plays rugby too and it's very safe and controlled, no worries at all.