Depowered srcums

[Sam_the_man]

About a week ago i heard on the radio that either the IRB or NZRU (can't remember which) were looking into depowered scrums due to the risk they involve to players (exact wording was "player wellfair issues"). Since then i've seen and heard nothing more on it.
I figure that the union followers will have more info?

 

[shiznit]

About a week ago i heard on the radio that either the IRB or NZRU (can't remember which) were looking into depowered scrums due to the risk they involve to players (exact wording was "player wellfair issues"). Since then i've seen and heard nothing more on it.
I figure that the union followers will have more info?

i havent heard anything about it... theres been some talk about it by some medical experts... but i havent heard anything formal.

i doubt the IRB would be able to do that very quickly.... they would need the backing of the european unions...

but the NZRFU could be doing it for junior footy...

 

[Sam_the_man]

Would be a good move in my books, i'm no great fan of union but i always cringe when i see a collaped scrum and some slow to get up. At the end of the day it's just a game and collecting a broken neck for your troubles just aint worth it.

 

[Te Kaha]

Wont ever happen and is not being looked at beyond age grade teams... The only people who want them depowered arent fans of the game.... or Australians.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Wont ever happen and is not being looked at beyond age grade teams... The only people who want them depowered arent fans of the game.... or Australians.

So why would the IRB OR NZRL (which one i can't recall) release a media statement if they wern't seriously looking at it?

 

[Parra]

It's already in the Under 19's laws.

Nothing is proposed any further - not by multiple world cup champions or the rest of world rugby.

 

[Te Kaha]

So why would the IRB OR NZRL (which one i can't recall) release a media statement if they wern't seriously looking at it?

Because they werent and you are wrong.... it is, has been, and only ever will be for age grade or weight restricted teams... The scrum is an integral part of the game... one of the worst aspects of League is the pathetic excuse for a scrum... they may as well just have a tap or play the ball.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Radio Live, 7:00am news and sport, 28th of January 2009. In this case you are wrong.

 

[Te Kaha]

Radio Live, 7:00am news and sport, 28th of January 2009. In this case you are wrong.

Ahhh found it... its a non issue... somebody again raised the issue of potential neck and back injury from scrums... so the IRB said they will look at it in April with the other Law changes i.e ELVs...

Given that the IRB has launched a three year study in place looking at the best coaching and scrum techniques the scum wont ever be depowered.

"The scrum is an integral part of the fabric of the Game and the IRB has been the driving force behind extensive global scrum research. This year the IRB will launch the most comprehensive study of the scrum in the Game’s history when it embarks on a three-year analysis of scrum forces.
“The primary goal of this unprecedented study is to determine the best possible techniques for playing, coaching and refereeing what is a critical area of the Game,” - IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

No way in hell it will ever be depowered

 

[Timbo]

It's a bit like wicket keepers wearing helmets in cricket.

I can see it becoming mandatory in age groups, never in real rugby.

The fact is, if you're properly trained, scrums are not dangerous. I played tight-head prop for years and never had problems.

 

[ozbash]

The fact is, if you're properly trained, scrums are not dangerous.

dead right, I hope it never happens.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Fair enough. I thought it interesting that they were looking at it again. The only time i've had to stick my nut into the front row of a union scrum was when one of our props had to go off injured and i got shifted from number 7 (is that open side flanker? can never remember which is which) to prop, the ref asked me if i'd played prop before and i said no so he instructed both packs not to push. Is that standard practise??? It's smart if that is standard, it protects those like me with no experience from injury.

 

[ozbash]

sounds like a pretty clued up ref Sam. Lot of kids get hurt every year because they havnt bothered to learn or havnt been taught propper scrum technique.

 

[Parra]

Fair enough. I thought it interesting that they were looking at it again. The only time i've had to stick my nut into the front row of a union scrum was when one of our props had to go off injured and i got shifted from number 7 (is that open side flanker? can never remember which is which) to prop, the ref asked me if i'd played prop before and i said no so he instructed both packs not to push. Is that standard practise??? It's smart if that is standard, it protects those like me with no experience from injury.

Yes. Without specialist front rowers scrums are non-contested at any level. There are even specific laws to ensure front rowers are on the field in test matches - hence we had to lose Waugh for a prop when Baxter was yellow carded in a recent test.

In U19's scrums must not move over 1metre and there are provisions in place for the ref to enforce uncontested scrums if the need arises.

Awareness of scrum safety has changed massively over the last 10-15 years. Even at the entry level coach/official courses scrum safety and the mayday procedure are mandatory.

 

[Sam_the_man]

I must say that this pleases me that the RFU is aware of the terrible damage that can accure in a scrum. A mate of mine crashed a Fonterra milk tanker late last year and broke his neck. The damage is more than just to his body, his personallity has changed and the poor bugger is just depressed 24/7.
So all in all well done RFU (and i never thought i'd utter those words )

 

[Runrun]

I must say that this pleases me that the RFU is aware of the terrible damage that can accure in a scrum. A mate of mine crashed a Fonterra milk tanker late last year and broke his neck. The damage is more than just to his body, his personallity has changed and the poor bugger is just depressed 24/7.
So all in all well done RFU (and i never thought i'd utter those words )

There are real dangers in all body contact sports. Some years ago I read that American Football is over-represented in serious injuries, apparently because of all the padding the players wear.

I know a fella, a Maori shearer actually, who was working in Australia, playing a bit of lower grade rugby in the country, practising line-out drills and fell from a height (having been lifted and dropped accidentally) ended up a paraplegic.

Talking of scrums, many years ago a colleague of mine had a son boarding at Gordonstoun (the school that Prince Charles attended in Scotland, so you would think they were pretty well organised), he was only 13 or 14, made a quadriplegic when a scrum collapsed.