England’s RFU has announced plans to introduce a non-contact version of the game in schools with the aim of halting a decline in youth participation.
An independent review commissioned by the national governing body “found evidence of decline in a number of schools with strong rugby traditions –- driven by concern about injury and a widespread view amongst schools not playing rugby that it is a difficult game to introduce”.
Head injuries have become a major issue within the sport in recent years, with a group of former players currently involved in legal action against World Rugby and other governing bodies.
The individuals allege not enough was done to protect them in their playing days.
The review, led by Jon Coles, chief executive officer of national schools group United Learning, found “clear evidence of a very large untapped market in schools which don’t have a tradition of playing rugby”.
The review recommends full contact rugby should still be available for Under-15s and over.
The RFU said it planned a roll-out of non-contact or T1 Rugby, which will still retain traditional elements such as line-outs, scrums and a breakdown, across the country with a “target” of 5,000 schools playing T1 Rugby within the next four years.
English rugby has often been labelled as a game for the privileged.
But Coles said: “There is enormous potential for the growth of a game which is now played and loved by players of both sexes, all skin colours, all economic backgrounds and all shapes and sizes — but historically hasn’t reached this whole population.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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