Rugby and the spirit of the game
The requiem was sung and the last rites administered before a gathering of those involved with the game. Eulogies were written on various sites about those who would have been opponents gracing the occasion. It was reminiscent of the spirit of the game – Rugby; as told in the much talked of ethos.That is now history. Trinity College will remember their brother and comrade as they face the season next year. It will not be easy as they take the field. But gradually it will be another event that has passed by though making an impact on the young minds. The protagonist in our story like in Macbeth is not a hero. But then it matters to the story.
The question as the story unfolds into the future is the lesson that will be learnt as we pick the antagonist by design and choice not because the selection was forced on us. This is not always correct as the many spenders and talkers want a win and look for somebody who can deliver even when the cost is high. The lesson is not one for Trinity alone. It is just that circumstances bring the hallowed Rugby playing school to the front. There are many others who have been and continue to travel on the foot-board. Travelling on the footboard and getting to your destination is not the best though you have got there with the body intact.
World Rugby always talks in terms of what is taught of being learner centered. What is that has been learnt from the tragic incident. Sermons will not bring back life. The need to revisit is not for just this school but to all that are involved.
I was reading a blog which showed that on average Australian Football League (AFL) player runs 10 to 15kms in a match whereas a Union Rugby player would run around 5 to 7kms in a match. This is in Pro Rugby. How do players train to play and run that sort of distance in a match? In AFL the monthly training program involves running no more than 3 to 5kms a week but with little or no long distance running. Training is broken to short medium and long. Studies show that AFL is the sport that runs most and fitness requirement is high and demanding. The reasons to look at AFL are because the aerobic fitness is considered to be the peak among running team sports. On a nice warm day if you have nothing else to do sit beside your power tool the computer and read more on how AFL players train.
The shovel with a load of dirt will surely be directed at the writer at this point asking why he is talking about AFL when we talk of Rugby Union. World Rugby has enough material on its site on player welfare. There is one “World Rugby Heat Guideline.” It says “considering the difference between endurance foot racing and rugby a review of other sports Heat Guidelines more close to Rugby was under taken. This investigation revealed that AFL had developed heat guidelines during 2000.”
However the study finding were limited as it only took into account ambient temperature and humidity around 70%. The study relied in the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines which used what was known as West Bulb Global Temperature. The AFL study observed there after that a more appropriate would be the Belding Hatch Stress Index ( Heat Stress Index) and adopted a guide using a Whirling Hygrometer to assess environmental conditions. This piece of equipment costs around $A 175 as mentioned in the World Rugby guide. This is a small investment when compared to the millions budgeted to win a match. That will obviously help the coach and or trainers to adapt the training to the environment which is warmer in Sri Lanka. The guideline of World Rugby has more details on how scheduling and acclimatisation should be applied to training sessions. I believe there are four World Rugby Educators for players welfare/ medical and more education from them is appropriates and a requirement.
With less grounds available teams practice during mid day when temperatures are over 30C and the humidity is over 80. Doing a long run mid day is not the best in the climate Sri Lanka faces. Neither is strenuous and demanding training schedules suited.
World Rugby talks of water breaks and length of training sessions. The scheduled fluid break is every 10 to 15 minutes while each 40 minute session should follow a 15 minute rest. Often during matches in Sri Lanka you find the teams taking field after the first half and ready to play with a much less than 10 minute break. When the referee does not start the spectators, coaches and other advisers make a huge fuss as to why the referee does not get on with the game of the players are ready. The reason is clear as explained.
World Rugby recognises that ARL used the Heat Stress index successfully and also conclude that World Rugby players are potentially at a higher risk of heat illness than NRL players. That is because Rugby athletes are bigger than ARL players, League players have access to interchange, fitness of ARL players are higher and there is less hugging.
Club Rugby season was changed and is played now during the lesser hot periods. School Rugby on the other hand is played during times where the temperature is at high levels. The scheduling has its problems due to exam and school calendar. It was a good decision to increase the number of substitutes which allow more changes. It may be more appropriate to reduce the playing time and not stick to the English in the law book but should be read with other guidelines and applied in a practical scenario.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and an Accredited
Referees' Evaluator IRB