Rugby chiefs play it safe and rewrite rules to safeguard boys from injury

Published on Tuesday 19 May 2009 22:07

SCOTTISH rugby's governing body will today unveil sweeping reforms to the sport's grassroots designed to protect young players from serious injury.

New guidelines will prevent boys under 16 playing at under-18 school or club level, and male players under 18 will not be allowed to participate in senior games.

Only "exceptional cases" will allow the rules to be bypassed, where a player can demonstrate the physical and mental maturity and skill to face off against older and more experienced opponents.

Referees will also be required to carry out risk assessments before every youth and school game, where the weight, size and experience of participants will be taken into account.

The changes are being introduced by Scottish Rugby following a spate of serious injuries at school level in recent years.

In February, a 14-year-old at Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh lost the use of an arm after a neck injury while playing against Dollar Academy. And last year Nick Watt, a pupil at Merchiston Castle, suffered serious spinal injuries during a game against Stewart's Melville.

In all, six schoolboy players in Scotland have suffered serious injuries in the past three years.

Scottish Rugby has pointed to "varying degrees of interpretation" among club and school teams surrounding age banding, refereeing and first-aid cover.

At present, boys aged 15 can play in under-18 competition, while those aged 16 and 17 are eligible for adult matches.

The ruling body believes the new rules will improve safety without compromising the ethos of the game. As part of the new policies, volunteers at school and club teams must ensure their games are covered by a minimum standard of pitchside care, with volunteers required to undertake a specialised rugby first-aid qualification by the start of the 2010-11 season.

Having expressed concern that not every injury suffered by players is reported by clubs and schools, Scottish Rugby will also move to implement a review of the injury reporting process, while working with the Scottish Government to monitor injury rates in school rugby in an attempt to manage risk.

John Beattie, the former Scotland international forward, praised the reforms. "Rugby has to realise it has to provide a safe environment for teenage boys to play in, as some get hurt," he said. "If we run away from that, we're kidding ourselves on. The ethos of the game is still great. It's just an anomaly in rugby where teenage players can get hurt when they go up against someone bigger and older – these changes are an excellent way of addressing that."

The changes follow a four-month consultation period carried out by Scottish Rugby in which it has consulted former players, orthopaedic specialists, clubs and local authorities.

A spokesman for Scottish Rugby said: "We are always looking to ensure that game evolves in a way which not only enhances safety, but also continues to make it accessible and fun for all those who participate."

Jim Littlefair, a director of Hearts and Balls, a charity set up to support players impacted by serious injury, welcomed the changes as part of an evolution of the sport. He said: "I think the responsibilities being put in place across all areas of the game are to be welcomed."

Mr Littlefair added: "What is being put forward is wholly reasonable, and no-one has any issue with it."