Women’s game must be adapted to prevent long-term injury
As the England men’s team seek an historic three in a row Six Nations titles (an award that never existed in the past when it was a Grand Slam or nothing) we also have the England Roses defending their title.
I am always slightly dubious of mentioning the women’s game having been cast as a Chauvinist many years ago after some innocent comments made by me and storming Norman Hadley (ex- Canadian second row) on the old BBC Rugby Special. However, an article in last week’s
Sunday Times by Stephen Jones reiterated a point that I have been making for years and that is the women’s game should find its own direction.
Currently as Jones wrote: “The women’s game is a poor imitation of the men using the same tactics and plays not taking into consideration the differences between the two.”
Although I think that the women are far better with the technical side of the game than men, attempting to play the ‘bash it up style’ seen in the majority of the men’s games brings them unfairly into comparison with the men.
Playing the men’s style as they do, I believe that even the England Roses would struggle against some of the better schools first XV’s or grassroots clubs, which is a level that doesn’t showcase their collective talents.
Jones took the view that women need far more women coaches at the top of the game, and he may be right, but I think there is a much bigger concern that should be dealt with first, and that is injury.
Like it or not, men and women are different and what has always bothered me most about the women’s game is the potential risk of injury and the lack of willingness by women, World Rugby, or Sport England, to correlate what little research has been done and then confront the truth.
The research is mainly in other countries and around other sports, but with some rugby input from USA, there has been some worrying conclusions, not least that serious injury is far more likely for young women than men playing sports like rugby.
A brief summary of injury categories show for instance:
Joint injuries – after puberty, men’s muscles gain power but women’s become more flexible. Without sufficient muscle to stabilise them, joints can be at risk so specialised training is required.
Hips, back and shoulders – little is known about the effects on these body areas, although shoulder injuries appear to be common in women playing rugby.
Concussion – research indicates concussion is caused more easily in girls and young women, perhaps because they have smaller heads and weaker necks.
Anterior cruciate ligament – women have up to eight times greater risk of ACL damage than men, and those affected are 25 per cent more likely to repeat the injury.
All this should sound alarm bells at the RFU who have targeted young girls and women in an effort to increase diversity and numbers.
I am not suggesting that girls should stop playing, far from it, but there should be a realisation that they need to play a different style of game.
It will still be rugby but a rugby that has been adapted to take into consideration the physical differences and injury risks, just as schools rugby plays under a number of different law variations to protect boys and young men as they grow.
This is not just a rugby issue. But with increasing efforts attracting greater numbers of young girls to the sport, it would be better if the game were proactive rather than reacting to a surge in injuries as was the case in youth rugby.
It was only after a series of catastrophic injuries to young boys that the variations were bought into the men’s game.
My hope is fears of being labelled ‘sexist’ or being seen as diminishing women’s equality doesn’t stop those responsible from changing laws for the women’s game. This would make it a safer game for all without having to face injuries first.
“Research shows serious injury is far more likely for young women than men playing sports like rugby”