Rugby Mythbusters

When talking about rugby we often receive questions from those unfamiliar with the sport asking

• If playing rugby is dangerous?

• Aren't you afraid to let your son/daughter play rugby?

• Won't they get injured?

That fact is, all physical activity has some risk involved but the governing bodies in rugby have gone to great lengths to create a sport that protects its participants at all ages, skills, and levels.

Injury rates in Rugby ranks BELOW Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Football, Baseball, and even Swimming (Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program, Health Canada: 1998). A recent study at West Point determined that rugby ranked below (among others) soccer and cross-country for broken bones and joint injuries. North Americans tend to think of Rugby as “Football without the pads,” but the truth is, tackling and other physical contact takes a different form when done without pads. Cuts, scrapes, and bruises are common in Rugby, but not serious injuries. The use of pads actually increases the likelihood of serious injury.

Rugby is a dynamic sport that is played all over the world by women, men, boys, and girls of all different classes, creeds, and races. It fosters friendship and camaraderie between players and can be played at all age groups (there are for modified forms of the game to help players keep active well into their 80's)

Rugby is:

• An easy game to play - no expensive equipment - no specific/specialized training required

• Respect for everyone yourself, team members, opposition, referees, coaches, etc. is expected. It is a part of the culture. Read more about Rugby’s Values HERE

• All sizes and abilities are welcome

• Encourages excellent hand/eye co-ordination

• Strong team ethic with players playing offense and defense

• Constant movement

• Affordable fees

• Everyone plays -Players are put into teams (not tiered) which then play against other clubs at tournaments/festivals

• Festivals last around 3 hours and are played on a Saturday OR Sunday

• We book tournaments that are as local to minimize travel - usually 8 per season - as evenly spaced as we can

• U6/8/10/12 are played in a 7-a-side format

• Nationally recognized coaching certification and First Aid/CPR training mandatory for at least one coach per team

• Training is two nights per week, 6:30 till 8:00, from early May

• Festivals start at end of May and finish at end of August

Our programs are structured to conform to the Rugby Canada/Rugby Ontario Long Term Rugby Development (LTRD) model.

• Under 6, 8, and 10 divisions play a non-contact coed flag version of the game

• Under 12 year old divisions play a modified coed version of the game which features limited contact.

• All players use an age appropriate sized ball

• Under 14 year old divisions and above use the whole field and play to the traditional rules of the sport.

For more information about how Rugby Canada helps to ensure player safety please visit http://playsmart.rugbycanada.ca/ or visit World Rugby's Player Welfare guide http://playerwelfare.worldrugby.org/