Gang tackles are fanning injury plague

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 30

Gang tackles are fanning injury plague

NZPA-AAP Sydney •I I I ' -! An increasing number of all-in gang tackles had contri--buted to this year’s rugby Ibague injury epidemic, two leading league officials said yesterday. i I The chairman of the Rugby League Medical Officers Association, Dr Hugh Hazard, and the long-time Parramatta and ■ Australian trainer, Mr Alf Richards, agreed the alarming increase in knee injuries could be attributed to multiple "hits." ) “The problem comes when players reach the advantage line, then prop with two legs wide apart and twist to unload,” said Dr Hazard. “When one defender has got hold of him and two come in over the top, the knee just cannot put up with that,” he said. Dr Hazard said this only accounted for knee Injuries, and the cause of so many broken limbs in the N.S.W.R.L. this season was no more than coincidence. “It is fate,” Dr Hazard said. “Basically, the players are

fitter and faster and they are hitting harder.’i* 'I ! ) | | Mr Richards said .doctors ! front every club in the league ; had (been confounded by) the unusually high) injury’toll.: I ; "<l’ve always! been; against gang tackles. When you do them) what usually happens) is J yoti [end up injuring your own | ; teainmates,” said Mr Richaras. | ' j I ''H | '! ! ‘[There’s no such thing as tackling around the legs any mqrp, and we’re also getting far] piore facial injuries," Mr Richards said. I ) •Dr | Hazard said rule changes banning gang tackles may have to be introducedito combat the heightening casualties. -■ (‘Eventually, it may come to I changing the rules,” Dr Hazard said. j ! I ‘I have no doubt gang tapkles have played a part: in the) problem,” he said. ) Both Dr Hazard and Mr Richards denied protective clothing, similar to that worn by [American football players, was the answer. 1 •‘lt’s ■ a pretty simplistic solution,” said Dr Hazard.! .!.)