Rugby injury toll up
By
HELEN McLEAN
Five rugby players and one rugby league player have been treated for neck and spinal injuries just five weeks into the 1989 club season.
The assistant director of the Christchurch Spinal Injuries Unit, Dr Allan Bean, said one of the six players was permanently paralysed and some of the others would suffer permanent weakness in the hands.
Dr Bean said the injured players would be foolish to play again after suffering a spinal or neck injury.
Dr Bean said the situation was serious as only two rugby players were admitted during the whole of the last rugby season. Steps had to be taken to make the game safer, he said.
The president of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, Mr Murray Inglis, said the union was aware of the situation and was doing all it could to improve the safety of the game. The chairman of the Canterbury Rugby League, Mr Bevan Olsen, said doctors were present at games and physiotherapists were available so injuries could be treated quickly.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 19 May 1989, Page 1
Word Count
175Rugby injury toll up Press, 19 May 1989, Page 1
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