No contact in school rugby would take more away from kids than the game itself.

Earlier this week it was reported that over 70 doctors and academics urged ministers to ban contact in rugby at UK and Irish schools. It was suggested that allowing children to play rugby with contact would put their health at risk in future years and that 'touch' rugby would be a far safer alternative. 

This report caught our eye and so we decided to put together a little post on why this report is completely ridiculous, massively stupid and for any rugby fan, infuriating.

I've had the pleasure of playing rugby since the age of 6. Back then (he says as if it were decades ago) we did not have the 'tag' rugby alternative which is played now by very young rugby players before they go onto contact at around 10 (I could be wrong on this age but it is around that). We played 'touch' rugby which means that instead of tackling someone to the ground you pat them on the hips with two hands and the tackle was made. 

I remember loving this form of the game, simply because I knew nothing different. 

I remember my last ever game of touch rugby and my dad saying to me, "next season's contact, that's much better". I didn't believe him. I could not comprehend anything being better than my beloved touch rugby. But how wrong I was...

The first training session of the following season we turned up all eager to see what all the fuss was about in contact rugby. We learnt how to tackle, how to fall and most importantly how not to tackle so that it could not risk the wellbeing of the opposition. 

It was tricky at first but we got the hang of it and by the time it came to game day we were rolling around in the mud, pulling players down and having the time of our lives. 

The feeling was incredible and all of a sudden I understood that my father had been so correct in his statement. 

And this is why it has irritated me so much that some imbeciles said contact should be banned from rugby at schools.

Most of my friends for whom I play rugby with now only learnt about the game at school. It was at school they learnt how to pass, how to score, where to run and how to tackle. 

It was only after the first game in PE that those who might have usually played football fell in love with the game and wished to give a club a go. Without these lessons I highly doubt rugby clubs would have half the players they do now. 

There's so much more to rugby than the contact and it's utterly bewildering to think that doctors know what rugby's about.

Discipline, teamwork, respect, enjoyment, leadership. 

These are words we take for granted when we talk about rugby but they are so true. Take away the contact and you take away the essence of rugby. 

Kids are not made of glass and paper. In fact they are usually made of glue, plastic and magic. They bend, they fall, they scrape their knees and hurt themselves all the time but they get back up with a huge smile on their faces and say "let's do that again!". Kid's might cry if they have to have an injection but fill them with adrenaline and put them on a grassy field and say "go", they will become much stronger than you give them credit for.

If you take away contact in school rugby you will not teach them how to fall when they get hit or where to put their heads when they want to make a hit. 

THAT is when injuries occur. 

It is only through ignorance of the sport that players get hurt in tackles. If they get a bump or a knock in a harder tackle it's not putting their lives at risk. It's simply teaching them to get back up even when you're hurt. That their team needs them and they can't roll around moaning. 

If a serious injury does happen, to which they do occasionally, they won't be in any life threatening position. In fact you will find that they will be itching to get back out on the field before they are even fit. 

Here's an example. 

The worst injury I witnessed on a rugby field was when we were around 11/12. A lad went into a tackle and somehow managed to break his collarbone. It was a serious injury and he was in qutie a bit of pain. He went to hospital and got the required treatment and we carried on as usual. The season later he was back with a grin on his face and big hello to everyone, ready for the first game.

I've seen more broken bones on people who don't play rugby than those who do, especially children! 

Children at that sort of age are still learning a lot. Take away the contact of rugby in schools and your taking away all the skills and attributes that make rugby players after a game meet up with the opposition, shake their hands and say "well played". 

Children are not precious artifacts that need to be preserved. They're little nutters that want to go out with their mates and play. Let them bloody do it!