World Rugby must now lead by example

IN his column last week, Jeff Probyn presents a very persuasive argument that, whatever steps are to be taken to reduce the risk of concussion injuries, they should be introduced across all levels of the game.

To do so at the elite level will, as he writes, require any law changes to be introduced globally, thus requiring the process to be led by World Rugby. There are, in fact, strong arguments for changes to the professional game being more important and appropriate than in the semi-pro and amateur game.

The elite game is not only widely acknowledged to pose the highest risk of serious head injuries across rugby union, but, as virtually the only element available to TV viewers, it will, inevitably, be the basis on which public opinions of our game will largely be formed, risking new generations of potential mini and youth players being prevented or discouraged by concerned parents from even starting the game.

Full time professional players will also have the time needed to practise and adapt to law changes much more quickly and effectively than part timers, or amateurs in the community game. For these reaority sons too, therefore, the lead needs to come from the top and it needs to lead by example, not through more potentially empty words.

There is a totally hollow ring to the arguments put forward by World Rugby to support their proposal to defer any changes at the top of the game at least until 2024 and possibly until after the 2027 World Cup. No matter how high the quality of medical services at that level are, they cannot guarantee to prevent long term brain damage from repeated concussions. As the Jamie George incident last weekend clearly demonstrated, the HIA process also is far from infallible, so measures need to be taken as soon as possible to reduce the incidence of such injuries. The very eloquent Dr. Ross Tucker, WR’s own advisor, made the importance of moving from injury management to injury reduction/prevention very clear, when interviewed last Sunday on BT Sport. No-one who has heard him speak can surely doubt the need for some urgent measures to be taken to lower tackle height levels further and his case for a tackle target area between the sternum and the waist seems compelling.

Since WR seem disinclined to lead by example, in my opinion, the top prifor all who are concerned about the future of the game should be to come together and demand that the global governing body and national unions start immediately to work, in consultation with all stakeholders in the top level game to work on the process of determining what law changes should take place right across the board and get on with implementing them. It is probably unrealistic to expect changes in laws for the professional game before this year’s World Cup, but let’s at least seek firm commitments to make these immediately after that, thus providing a clear framework within which decisions can be taken by the community game everywhere.

The RFU has royally fouled up in its handling of the proposed law changes here so far, but has acknowledged this and has undertaken now to do properly the job of consultation and arriving at detailed law change proposals. Unlike WR, though, it is at least proposing concrete actions and strong lobbying of the global regulatory body to do likewise and of national bodies around the globe to get on board should, in my view, be at the top of their actions list, if it isn’t already.