Fairplay to Pete Wilkins. He has the tactical ignorance of Padraic Joyce mixed in with the inability to improvise on the spot like Shefflin all rolled into one. An absolute ignoramus who failed his way to a head coaching gig and six figures a season.
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There may be more to it than that I heard.
Is this about Jennings?
Good article here about head injuries
Owen Doyle: Fundamental need exists for World Rugby to rid the game of danger
The elephant in the room is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which translates as severe, degenerative brain damage
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Irelandâs Calvin Nash in action against Ben White of Scotland during the recent Six Nations game at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Tue Mar 26 2024 - 06:00
On the Thursday before the Six Nations clash with Scotland, the announcement of Irelandâs team included the name of Calvin Nash. He had failed a head injury assessment just five days earlier.
While Nash passed all the protocols to enable his selection, many eminent rugby people, medics included, are adamant that the seven-day return to play period that is permitted is far too short.
Meanwhile, the England player Immanuel Feyi-Waboso reported his own brain injury symptoms, effectively sidelining himself for their final match.
The elephant in the room is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which translates as severe, degenerative brain damage. It is only possible to diagnose by postmortem autopsy, and is caused by repetitive blows to the head that are not confined to concussion. Dr Ann McKee is the expert head of research at Boston Universityâs CTE Centre, and the findings from her department make for grim reading.
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Autopsies conducted in the centre last year examined the brains of 152 donors who died between the young ages of 13 and 30. Most were American football players, but other sports, such as ice hockey, boxing and rugby, were also on the list, which covered professional and amateur players.
The results showed that 63 â or 41 per cent â were diagnosed with early onset CTE.
âThis shows that the pathology starts early. The fact that over 40 per cent of young contact and collision sports athletes in the brain bank have CTE is remarkable â considering that studies of community brain banks show that fewer than 1 per cent of the general population has CTE,â explained Dr McKee.
Soon enough, we will hear more from the courts in relation to the action of former players suffering from dementia and probable CTE.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: reported his own brain injury symptoms, effectively sidelining himself for their final match away to France. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
The human toll from brain injuries is devastating. There was the tragic suicide last year of 33-year-old former Maori player, Billy Guyton. His symptoms, outlined recently by his father, were harrowing. Guytonâs donated brain showed clear evidence of CTE.
And donât forget Siobhan Cattigan, the young Scotland international player who also died tragically at the age of 26. Or that four young French players died from rugby injuries, also in recent times.
For many there is no better sight than young kids playing rugby. The fun, enjoyment, and friendships formed are an invaluable part of growing up into adulthood. The benefits are lifelong, but this great game faces huge challenges. Despite all the good the sport provides, there is a major dilemma for parents in selecting rugby for their children.
Professionalism has seen the arrival and inexorable growth of brutal collisions, with the head frequently in the equation. Inevitably, what happens at the top end of the sport is copied at club and school level. The school cups this year were again full of excellent rugby, and also full of enormous physicality, a facsimile of the pro-game.
So, what are World Rugby doing about it?
Well, their recent Shape of the Game forums have reported and the press release is an interesting read. While âsafety and player welfareâ are mentioned, and the âcroc rollâ is heading for extinction, the proposals focus primarily on entertainment value.
We have also heard in recent times about finding the right balance between safety and spectacle, rather than considering safety as the absolute priority, not something you need to balance with anything.
In May, the World Rugby Council will consider recommendations from their recently-formed specialist groups. They will debate the divisive issue of the 20-minute red card replacement, perhaps accompanied by stronger sanctions for offenders.
I hold the strong belief that this debate must be confined to actions where the tackler has little time to adjust, for example New Zealandâs Sam Cane in the World Cup final. Brutal foul play cannot be accompanied with the luxury of a replacement. It would be sheer folly and fly in the face of Dr McKeeâs findings.
Referee Wayne Barnes upgrades New Zealandâs Sam Cane to a red card in the World Cup final defeat to South Africa at the Stade de France, Paris. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
A key element will be their deliberations around the breakdown, a review of safety and spectacle issues â âfor example, the impact of contesting the ball on the floor, jackal as opposed to an upright driving gameâ.
This is a very important opportunity to keep players on their feet, and outlaw the action of flying into the breakdown, which has become a progressively violent area.
On the other hand, the persistent tactic of âpick and drivesâ, with players leading with their heads, doesnât seem to be mentioned.
The whole question of replacements is also on the table, including when and how they should be used. This will involve analysing âthe number and the timing of replacements, player fatigue, and what options might create more space on the field, while improving injury ratesâ.
There is a fundamental need for World Rugby to rid the game of danger, and to heed Dr McKeeâs research. So, itâs imperative that the Council measures relevant law proposals against the primary necessity of eliminating collisions involving the head. Rather than making the mistake of overconcentrating on what the chair, Bill Beaumont, enthusiastically describes as âembracing change by dialling up the entertainment value.â
Both are of high relevance, and both can surely be delivered, they are not mutually exclusive.
Finally, there are numerous suggestions that specific law changes for club and schools are required. Fergus Slattery, the great Ireland and Lions player of yesteryear, was a strong advocate for it, before his own battle with severe dementia.
Such a law move could well be the only pathway which ensures the long-term survival of rugby at these amateur levels
Time to rid the world of Rugby
And horse racing.
Just in case
St Helens v Wigan on Sky now
The tackling in this is fucking brutal
Knowsley Road is hopping as St. Helenâs take the lead with seven minutes left.
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Itâs hopping now alright as St. Helenâs clinch it with a try after 78 minutes. Celebrity superfan Michael âBully Boyâ Smith is very happy.
Wigan will seek revenge at Central Park later in the year.
Savage respect and camaraderie between the players on the pitch here after the game and the crowd are staying around to roar off their heroes. Rugby League retains standing terraces and boy does it make a difference to the atmosphere.
A cracking bit of sport that.
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I nearly always go to that game.
Reds v the Brumbies tomorrow morning. Is Tom Lynagh is the real deal? Should be a decent game.
Is Trinity the worldâs oldest?
This boy can play.
The Aussies are coming. Joe Schmidt to topple the lions in 2025.
How did Michael Lynagh two sons end up in England one plays for Italy and one for Australia ?
Oldest still active. They can be Relegated today with a loss and no BPs. Hopefully i cant stand the cunts
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Love to see them go down. Obnoxious cunts on the pitch and on sideline
How the fuck is that retard Harrison given a microphone and media duties? An absolute wanker of a creature
No notion