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#Post#: 5817--------------------------------------------------
Neil Spence
DIR By: Whiterhino
Date: December 18, 2020, 4:51 am
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Is one of the 9 players bringing a claim against the Rugby Union
Authority.
Having read his remarks I must say I have/ am suffering a lot of
these symptoms myself and have never, ever played rugby !!
Whilst you have sympathy for anyone suffering with these
problems I fear it will be the end of rugby Union as we know it.
Lawyers will almost certainly force the RFU to change the game
almost beyond recognition and their compensation claims will
bankrupt the sport.
The easy money and claim culture imported from America is
rampant and will put an end to virtually all the old ways until
there is absolutely nothing left.
I am not saying that the game doesn’t need better protocols and
at International level,the game especially England is based on
pure brute force and legalised thuggery
My overall point is this dementia situation happens in all walks
of life but the legal eagles appear to think they have found
easy pickings !!
#Post#: 5818--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Rucko
Date: December 18, 2020, 6:37 am
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Couldn’t agree more about the game changing beyond recognition.
Looking at the way football is going and heading the ball, I can
see rugby following similar alterations. Certainly not the game
that was played 50 years ago.
#Post#: 5819--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Chris.Garbutt
Date: December 18, 2020, 8:32 am
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I'm struggling to make up my mind on the whole situation to be
honest. I obviously feel very sorry for the players suffering.
My thoughts at the moment is that Rugby is a very physical game
that comes with risks of permanent injury, when the game went
professional there wasn't a blue print to go from training wise
so teams had to learn as they went along and over the last 20
years, clubs and coaches etc have learned and changed a lot to
try and make the game safer! I'm sure things were done wrong at
times but isn't that the same with every sport? Changes have
been made to Tackling rules, rucking rules etc in order to
improve player safety and these rules are taken very seriously.
I completely agree with educating people on the dangers and
looking at ways to improve safety but I do not agree with the
financial claims being made. It seems like a bit of having your
cake and eating it? It's almost like a boxer complaining about
getting hit in the head, it's kind of the point of the sport and
you knew that going into it. Sports science has come on a
tremendous amount in the last 20 odd years which has made a
positive impact on player safety.
To make financial claims against the sport that gave players
careers during this climate just seems a bit like kicking a man
whilst he is down, everyone is struggling and I really don't
think the RFU can afford to be paying out large sums of money to
players who consented to playing the game and taking part in
training.
It is a difficult one as no one wants anyone to be suffering /
struggling but these are the risks of playing a highly physical
and dangerous sport.
#Post#: 5820--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Keppeltitan
Date: December 18, 2020, 9:08 am
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Got to agree with you Chris .
#Post#: 5821--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Duncang
Date: December 18, 2020, 12:02 pm
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Very good post Chris, I totally agree
#Post#: 5827--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: johnf
Date: December 19, 2020, 11:56 am
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I am a little surprised at some of the comments, surely there is
a view that the RFU have a duty of care. The effects of constant
collisions, not always direct to the head has been known for a
number of years. A 2016 film called concussion highlighted one
doctor’s endeavours to get the problem acknowledged my the NFL
on behalf of American Football, major problem is that precise
diagnosis of condition cannot be confirmed until post-mortem.
Many of us fans will have seen players shake their heads after a
knock to the head and carry prior to the introduction of the
head injury protocol and I guess some of these guys affected are
seeking some help for the future. Don’t know the age of
Whiterhino but perhaps a little older than some of these guys
with early onset Dementia.
Just a different view
#Post#: 5828--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Duncang
Date: December 19, 2020, 4:02 pm
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Those of us that played did so in the full knowledge that rugby
is a heavy contact sport with risks but did so willingly on the
basis that the enjoyment outweighed those risk. One of the guys
I played with broke his neck! We'd have never ever considered
suing the sport and so I have little empathy with those that are
now going down that route
#Post#: 5829--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Chris.Garbutt
Date: December 20, 2020, 9:33 am
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I agree Duncan,
It's a very tricky situation, I obviously feel extremely sorry
for any players that are suffering and wish them all the best.
However, they did consent to take part in training / games
knowing there was risks. Two big 18 stone blokes clashing at
full pace is going to do some amount of damage to the human
body. 100 live scrums on a session is going to be dangerous.
(This is something Roth actually bragged about doing in the
Bester days...)
I'm all for looking at ways to improve safety and to educate on
the dangers of the sport but I can't agree with suing the RFU
after the fact has happened. No one was forced to do any of
those things and we all know the dangers of playing rugby. Steve
Thompson has suggested that players retire at 22 / 23 years old
etc, now for me this has to be up to the individual, if they
want to play then they should be able to have the chance like
the ex players did. I really feel sorry for Steve, he was an
amazing player however I think this line he is taking could
actually really damage the sport and potentially keep young
players from being able to experience the game and opportunities
he was able to experience.
For me the RFU could bring in rules like
mandatory scrum caps for mini's and juniors,
mandatory shoulder pads to decrease the blunt force collisions
They could take a look at the scrum cap itself to see if there
is a way to make it more protective etc.
Looking at the rolling maul to see if there is a rule that would
increase safety there,
Over the last 20 years changes have been made to tackling,
rucking, mauling, scrums all in order to make the game safer.
I dislocated and broke my elbow playing rugby as well as many
other injuries, that was my risk, I couldn't sue the team I
played for because I injured myself. That was the risk I took.
Also when rugby first went professional we didn't have the
knowledge and experience that we do now so it is easy to look
back and pick it apart from our position.
For me its a bit of biting the hand that fed you / gave you an
amazing opportunity and platform. For me that is wrong. Think of
all the players that never made it to play professionally or for
England that would jump at the chance to be in that position.
All for education and improving safety. I think the suing thing
is a slippery slope that could have a serious detrimental effect
on our sport and many others - MMA, Boxing, Motor Sports, X Game
type sports.
#Post#: 5833--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: supporter
Date: December 21, 2020, 10:26 am
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I don’t agree with the boxing analogy. The idea of boxing is to
strike your opponent on the head and induce unconsciousness.
Boxers consent to that.
Inducing concussion via a head injury is not what rugby players
especially youngsters sign up to. I think the game will have to
change but it needs careful thought.
#Post#: 5834--------------------------------------------------
Re: Neil Spence
DIR By: Chris.Garbutt
Date: December 21, 2020, 11:28 am
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Totally agree in that sense Supporter, I was trying to get more
at point of boxers know the danger of the sport and consent to
that, as do rugby players. Unfortunately concussions can not be
100% avoided. It is certainly not the aim of our game and many
things have been put in place to minimise that. However if I am
a player and say for example I go into a tackle and end up
getting a concussion that responsibility is on me.
More obviously needs to be done but I 100% agree that it needs
to be done carefully and only with the intention of bettering
the sport!
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