Rugby League might rethink plans to reintroduce scrums for the 2021 season amid the hovering unfold of Covid… with concussion statistics WORSE of their absence
- Scrums had been scrapped when Tremendous League resumed after lockdown final 12 months
- However they had been reintroduced for 2021 marketing campaign which is able to climax with World Cup
- Nonetheless, the brand new mutant Covid pressure has prompted a rethink about scrums
- The return of scrums in Rugby League may make it more durable to include Covid
- The elimination of scrums has made gamers extra inclined to move accidents
Rugby league may proceed with out scrums subsequent season regardless of considerations that their elimination might improve the danger of gamers affected by concussion.
Scrums had been abolished when the Tremendous League season resumed after lockdown final summer season, as the game sought to persuade Public Well being England it was secure to play throughout the pandemic, however had been as a consequence of be re-introduced for the 2021 marketing campaign which is able to climax with England staging the World Cup subsequent autumn.
The speedy unfold of the brand new variant of Covid-19 has prompted a rethink amongst officers nevertheless, amidst considerations that the return of scrums may make it more durable to include the virus and result in mass postponements.
Scrums had been scrapped when the Tremendous League marketing campaign resumed after lockdown final 12 months
The variety of latest cancellations in rugby union, who’ve retained scrums within the skilled recreation, is a serious trigger for concern as was emphasised on Wednesday when Northampton v Leicester grew to become the fifth Premiership recreation to be known as off because the new season started final month.
The RFL Legal guidelines Committee will meet to think about the difficulty on 20 January with a last choice anticipated by the tip of the month.
Till the brand new variant emerged in December the return of scrums was seen as a simple name, however officers should stability that want with their obligation of care to the gamers and the necessity to defend Tremendous League’s £40million-a-year tv take care of Sky Sports activities, which might be jeopardised by mass cancellations.
A troublesome choice has been compounded by proof that the elimination of scrums has made gamers extra inclined to move accidents because of the elevated variety of tackles, which account for 76 per cent of concussions in rugby.
Abolishing scrums has made gamers extra inclined to move accidents as a consequence of extra tackles
Within the 61 common season Tremendous League matches following the resumption there was a median of 708 tackles, a big improve on the pre-lockdown common of 658 and the 2019 season common of 652.
In distinction the highest tackling crew within the rugby union Premiership this season – Gloucester – have accomplished 702 tackles in 5 matches.
The retirement of former Leeds Rhinos captain Stevie Ward on the age of 27 as a consequence of concussion has strengthened the hazard to rugby gamers, 10 of whom are getting ready a authorized declare for damages after receiving a prognosis of early onset dementia.
To compound difficulties for the Legal guidelines Committee scrums have been retained by the NRL in Australia all through the pandemic, elevating the uncomfortable prospect of most of England’s gamers working underneath considerably totally different guidelines than their southern hemisphere rivals forward of the World Cup.
Former Leeds Rhinos skipper Stevie Ward retired on the age of 27 as a consequence of concussion
