contested scrums to be banned

[CanadianSteve]

Surgeon calls for ban on contested scrums
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Sunday, May 28, 2006
A leading surgeon has called for contested scrums to be outlawed because of the unacceptable risk of serious neck injuries.
In an article published in the British Medical Journal, James Bourke, a consultant general surgeon at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, said rugby union should follow rugby league and adopt non-contested scrums.
"It's a question of safety," said Bourke, who was club doctor for Nottingham Rugby Club for 30 years.
"I originally subscribed to contested scrums, but having experienced the consequences of two young men needing to be in wheelchairs as a result of collapsed scrums, I have been forced to change my view."
Bourke's article in the BMJ referred to a report from Australia that said spinal injuries were more common in rugby union than in other football codes. It said no scrum injuries had occurred in league in Australia since 1996, when contested scrums were banned.

"In Britain acute spinal cord injuries in rugby union continue to occur, typically associated with scrums at the moment of engagement," wrote Bourke.
"Wheelchair dependency among those injured is common, and insurance is inadequate."
The International Rugby Board, which is responsible for the laws of the game, said contested scrums were "an integral part of the game".
"Various laws are under review, but there is no current intention to change the laws on scrums," IRB spokesman Greg Thomas said. "If you take away contested scrums, you are essentially left with rugby league and we are rugby union."
Reuters

This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/05/28/1148754861760.html
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Can a merger between the RU and RL codes be far behind?

 

[aussies1st]

Then the Poms and South Africa will have nothing to play for. All their big meaty props would be worthless.

 

[Te Kaha]

Srums wont be banned... they are one of the most important parts of the game... this happens every few years.. it wont change anything, except maybe getting people to sign wavers

 

[Master Vippo]

Misleading title to this thread

 

[Timbo]

The surgeon is a goober.

Watch RL if you dont like them.

 

[rugged]

Why don't they ban road racing and while they are at it all cycling.

That has to be the most dangerous sport.

 

[CanadianSteve]

Misleading title to this thread

I know, sorry, I wanted to get people's attention.

 

[Sharkie™]

i cant see them abolsing scrums because that makes union basically conseed to league and they would never do that. alot of union supporters bag the league scrums so imagine if union abolished it aswell. alot of people could lose interest. for me personally, union scrums are frustrating with the constant resets and sh*t.

 

[brendothejet]

Im Sorry, But Do Peolpe Really Want To Watch Scrums, Or Plays, Runs, Backline Moves?

Scrums Serve No Purpose Other Than To Take Forwards Out Of The Play.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

When a really good scrummaging unit like the ABs or Otago is smashing some pissweak (probably Australian) scrum, I could watch it all day.

 

[bayrep]

Well siad SM.

 

[Jackal Dog]

In case anyone isn't aware a few months ago the Argentina Rugby Union lost a court case and had to pay a paraplegic teenager millions in compensation that has left them broke. The teenager had been playing a club game at centre and when there was a injury to a frontrower went into the frontrow as a hooker and broke his neck in a scrum.

Now instead of making a healthy profit when the AB's visit in about a weeks time the UAR will be struggling to get out of the red.

This is a bad case that could of easily been avoided with some decent education. Banning them is not the solution but we need to have better education and information on them.

On a side note, did anyone else think the game last night flowed much better when uncontested scrums were used?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

In case anyone isn't aware a few months ago the Argentina Rugby Union lost a court case and had to pay a paraplegic teenager millions in compensation that has left them broke. The teenager had been playing a club game at centre and when there was a injury to a frontrower went into the frontrow as a hooker and broke his neck in a scrum.

Now instead of making a healthy profit when the AB's visit in about a weeks time the UAR will be struggling to get out of the red.

That's why we have the rule that scrums must be uncontested when therer are no specialist front rowers able to pack down. Had the Argies followed that policy they would be millions of $$ richer and the kid would still be able to walk.