Rugby union should ban contested scrums

Editor—Bourke's statement that contested scrums are not allowed in the under 19 game is incorrect.¹ Scrums in schoolboy games are certainly contested. The differences from the senior game in terms of contesting are that the scrum cannot be wheeled more than 45° as opposed to 90°, and the scrum is not allowed to be pushed more than 1.5 m.²

Figure 1.

Credit: DPP/REX

He is also incorrect in stating that in rugby league pushing has not been allowed since 1996. It is technically still allowed according to the rule book, but it is accepted in the game that it is not done.³

As someone who played rugby union from a very early age and is still playing now, I disagree with the author. I have never played in a game with such an injury in over 20 years, and the scrum does not just allow a tactical advantage—games are won and lost there. I attended a rugby playing school in England, where an excellent coach taught safety at the scrum first, then competent technique. Competent refereeing is also important in keeping players safe. Most players of rugby union, a hugely popular social game in the United Kingdom, are not professional and therefore would not be covered under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Players suffering such injuries should indeed be compensated adequately, and national union insurance policies should reflect this. Despite this, as members of their respective unions, rugby players are in a better position for such compensation than those independently undertaking such activities as horse riding and skiing or snow-boarding, where the risk may be higher and any injuries sustained would be accountable only to themselves. The unfortunate events that Bourke has witnessed do not give sufficient case to change a game hundreds of thousands of people enjoy the way it is, despite knowing what could happen.