Ban scrums in school rugby to stop brain injuries - professor

ONE of Scotland's top public health advisers has called for rugby scrums and high tackles to be banned in secondary schools to prevent brain injuries.

Professor Allyson Pollock, director of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for International Public Health Policy, said even mild knocks could lead to brain damage in later life and insisted not enough was being done to monitor rugby-related injuries.

In a report published in the Journal of Public Health, Professor Pollock and her co-authors looked at 470 rugby players at five schools in Scotland last year.

There were 37 injuries recorded 26 during matches and 11 in training, including 20 which needed a trip to the accident and emergency department.

The tackle was the "commonest phase of play causing injury" with heads and faces the most injured body-part and sprains or ligament damage the most common injury, the study found.

Professor Pollock, one of the study's authors, said: "High tackles and scrums should be banned. The sport is not safe enough for schoolchildren and not enough is being done to protect the safety of children.

"We know that most injuries occur in tackles and the scrum so there have got to be much greater safety measures in these areas. It may change the game but it's better to have a safe game than a dangerous game.

"Concussion is under-reported because it's not being monitored properly. Repeated concussions may have severe long-term consequences.

"Rugby is compulsory in many schools - and schools, teachers and coaches have a duty of care towards children."

She added: "If youngsters were coming back from school trips with these rates of injuries, it would be enough to trigger a major inquiry."

Former Scottish internationalist and BBC commentator John Beattie said rugby was addressing the risks but all physical sport contained an element of danger.

He said: "Given the confines of the sport, rugby is trying to mitigate the risks. I think rugby has been very good at not pointing the finger at other, more dangerous sports, and there are a lot more dangerous sports statistically.

"I'm not proud that people get bad neck injuries playing rugby, but I love the game. There are people killed walking hills every year but we are not banning hillwalking. I understand it's a dangerous sport but lots of sports are dangerous and it's one of many."

Professor Pollock made nearly identical accusations two years ago after a 17-year-old pupil from Merchiston Castle suffered a spinal injury during a rugby match.

She then accused schools of encouraging "aggressive, gladiator-style behaviour", said parents were not being made aware of the risks of rugby and condemned government "complacency".

The Scottish Government helped fund the latest research.A spokeswoman said: "While the government is fully supportive of school rugby, it's very important we have accurate data about injuries sustained to ensure that young people are not being exposed to disproportionate risks."