We’re making rugby as safe as possible, insists John
WELSH rugby community boss Geraint John has moved to reassure the grassroots community that everything possible is being done to make the game as safe as it can be in Wales.
The Welsh Rugby Union’s community director said one of the matters being looked into is when contact is introduced, while ensuring all volunteers have the relevant training is another.
“We’re conscious that one of our key strategic aims and key priorities is making sure the game is safe,” John said.
“Part of that is making sure the player development pathway from when a youngster starts playing the game at the age of six or seven, right through to 35, has the necessary support and all the resources for all our volunteers to make sure the game is safe.
“With player pathway, for example, there’s certain times of the player pathway when they can do contact. We’re also looking at when do you introduce contact? Some people may not want to play a contact version of rugby - what are the other offerings as well?”
As for reports that registered players must now tick a box accepting any risk of injury as a condition of registration, John said that is not a reaction to the heightened global awareness of head injuries in rugby but has been there for some time.
“That information has been there a long period of time when players register, it’s not a reaction from right now,” he said. “When they click on those things at registration, it’s information, an opportunity for parents to understand what is out there as well.”
Courses which have made available to coaches range from introducing contact and tag rugby to tackling technique, while the WRU reports an increase in uptake of first aid courses over the summer.
“We’ve been inundated with our first aid courses this summer, more than ever before, because we’re coming back to what we could call a ‘normal’ season. We’ve a lot of new volunteers so we’ve had to do a lot of education this year.”
As for referees, he added: “It’s not just about applying the laws, it’s about making sure everybody’s safe, they have a duty of care as well in terms of that element.”
World Rugby has convened a meeting of community directors in November during the Women’s Rugby World Cup to share ideas on pathway, safety and best practice. “It’s a contact sport but our duty as a governing body is to try and make sure that everybody is fit, healthy, safe,” he added.
“But our aim is a sport that provides the health, wellbeing, camaraderie, our values of the game, friendship, meeting people, that’s the key part of our rugby. We’ve got to still make sure that is maintained. Rugby is a great, fun sport. We’ve got to make sure we do it safely.”
John was speaking at Morriston RFC while visiting one of the WRU’s recentlylaunched “Fit, Fed, Fun” camps, which are aimed at supporting children and families during the school holidays by targeting kids who would benefit from free meals at the sessions, which also offer rugby and educational activities.