Imposing Compulsory Rugby Union on Schoolchildren: An Analysis of English State-Funded Secondary Schools

Abstract

ObjectiveTo establish the extent to which Rugby Union was a compulsory physical education activity in state-funded secondary schools in England and to understand the views of Subject Leaders for Physical Education with respect to injury risk.MethodA cross-sectional research study using data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) from 288 state-funded secondary schools.ResultsRugby Union was delivered in 81% (n = 234 of 288) of state-funded secondary school physical education curricula, including 83% (n = 229 of 275) of state-funded secondary school boys' and 54% (n = 151 of 282) of girls' physical education curricular. Rugby Union was compulsory in 91% (n = 208 of 229) of state-funded secondary schools that delivered it as part of the boys' physical education curriculum and 54% (n = 82 of 151) of state-funded secondary schools that delivered contact Rugby Union as part of the girls' physical education curriculum. Subject Leaders for Physical Education also perceived Rugby Union to have the highest risk of harm of the activities they delivered in their school physical education curriculum.ConclusionNotwithstanding discussions of appropriate measures (i.e., mandatory concussion training, Rugby Union specific qualifications and CPD) to reduce injury risk, it is recommended that Rugby Union should not be a compulsory activity given that it has a perceived high risk of injury and is an unnecessary risk for children in physical education.

A Qualitative Exploration of Parents’ Perceptions of Risk in Youth Contact Rugby

“…The researchers also conclude that the evidence is either ‘mixed or unclear’ on contact forms of rugby offering any unique physical and mental health well-being benefits, over non-contact forms. This begs the question of why contact is required in the children’s sport, particularly when considered in school physical education settings [ 11 , 33 ]. Understanding perceived risk in contact rugby is also complicated by the fact that much of the damage that is caused to the brain on impact is not seen [ 34 ].…”