The “Contact Rugby in Schools” debate : Reactions, comments, news and resources

posted over 7 years ago

Health experts have called for the Government to “Ban contact rugby in schools” in an open letter published across various new channels today. (2/3/16)

The afPE, RFU, schools, parents and many players and supporters have been discussing the pros and cons of pupils playing full contact rugby as opposed to Tag or Touch Rugby.

For more on this story please read:

BBC : Doctors urge schools to ban tackling in rugby

The Telegraph: Ban contact rugby in schools, say health experts

afPE: Association for Physical Education (afPE) fully supports the inclusion of Rugby within National Curriculum Physical Education.

Other Resources:

GOV.UK : National curriculum in England: PE programmes of study

For further reading please download a copy of the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s “Concussion Guidelines for the Education sector”

and the RFU’s ‘Rugby Safe’ document (The Rugby Football Union’s Commitment to Player Welfare).

With the 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championship coming to a head over the next couple of weeks and rugby enjoying a surge of publicity, we will be following this debate closely so we can advise and assist our PE teachers, Sports Coaches and the schools we work with on any changes to the current guidance or National Curriculum.