Cut injury risks
again. That’s to do with different training techniques coming in, changes in focus. So you get a lag period where players get used to doing that volume or type of exercise.
“But, in short, we can’t accept that level of injury. We’ve got to strive, on both the medical and coaching side. Because the coaches don’t want this, they want as many of their players as fit as possible.
“There are higher powers than myself who look at the laws of the game, and World Rugby should be commended. Fifteen years ago the focus was on serious neck injuries and, touch wood, that is something which has been reduced.” Centre Alex Dunbar has been ruled out of next month’s Scotland tour to North America and Argentina, writes Duncan Smith.
The SRU revealed yesterday that Dunbar sustained a hamstring injury in training with his club Glasgow Warriors last week, with further medical assessment ruling him out of action.
Head coach Gregor Townsned has called up Edinburgh centre Mark Bennett, a former Scotstoun team-mate of Dunbar, to the squad for the Tests against Canada, United States and Argentina. Bennett, who joined Edinburgh last summer, has 20 caps but hasn’t featured since last year’s Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, in which he suffered a knee injury which ruled him out for the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, all three matches on the tour will be screened live on BBC and Channel 4. The Tests against Canada on 9 June and USA on 16 June will both be live on the BBC, while Channel 4 will air the final match against Argentina on 23 June.