Since the start of the Rugby World Cup, 19 players have abandoned the event due to injury. Morphologies that have changed and an infernal pace of matches explain this.
Some compare it to a butcher’s shop, others speak more of a massacre of wounded. These strong words are not the ones that describe a fight scene but simply the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Organized in England and Wales (from September 18 to October 31), 19 injured players have indeed left the competition after only 30 games.
In more detail, there are two fractured jaws, seven damaged knees, torn pecs, etc., an astonishing toll which already exceeds that of the World Cup 2011 in New Zealand where only 15 players left their teammates prematurely due to injury.
On the eve of the match of the XV of France against Ireland, Why actor wanted to understand this evolution. Dr Jean-Jacques Galouye, President of the Medical Commission of the Midi-Pyrénées Rugby Committee, enlightened us on the reasons for this chaos and the solutions to be provided.
Does this figure of 19 withdrawn players surprise you?
Dr Jean-Jacques Galouye : No, I’m not surprised. I think there are several elements that come into play to explain it. First, the fatigue of the players is important. They come out for a lot of a full season with streaks too close between the national championship, the European Cup, and now the World Cup.
Despite the preparation and rotating numbers, rugby players play too much, that’s for sure. Take the example of the Japanese who had two games in 3 days, this is not reasonable. Recovery time should be a minimum of 5 days.
The evolution of the game means that the playing times are longer and that there are less penalties and hits than before. Suddenly, the impacts are more and more important, and almost no downtime during a meeting. If we add to this the increase in player weights and morphotypes, the increasing number of injuries is not at all surprising.
Does this greater muscle mass promote certain injuries?
Dr Jean-Jacques Galouye : Indeed, then the muscular force of the players increases, the tendon elements remain more or less the same. This causes the tendon to be subjected to more pulls and strains than before, when the players weighed 20 kilograms less. On a skeleton, muscles, and tendons already tired, it is not surprising that the body explodes.
Isn’t injury prevention a matter of young people?
Dr Jean-Jacques Galouye : I think so. Even if I assure you that we are already doing a lot of things on this subject in rugby schools. For example, from the start, we teach the little ones to stand in melee. Same for the tackle, this gesture must remain correct. Young people are tirelessly reminded that it happens in the upper legs, and not in the upper body as they sometimes see on TV.
If, in the future, rugby remains within the limits of the correction, I think there will be a positive development. Afterwards, whether it is played at XV or XIII, it remains a contact sport and, by definition, it can be dangerous.
Should we change the rules?
Dr Jean-Jaques Galouye : I think that the rules exist and that it is especially necessary that the referees apply them perfectly. Players who may be a little inappropriate, in their aggressiveness or their tackles, should be sanctioned more severely. It is at this level that we must work so that these athletes no longer suffer high tackles, which are very dangerous. But this is just one example.
I also think of ruck (1), or open scrum, in which players must no longer dive into a man on the ground. In the future, I plead for this to be sanctioned with a systematic yellow card.
(1) Spontaneous regrouping in which players from opposing teams stand, push each other and fight with their feet for possession of the ball on the ground.
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