Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Scrums are contested in junior rugby

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7554.1391

BMJ 2006;332:1391 (10 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7554.1391

Letter

Rugby union should ban contested scrums

Scrums are contested in junior rugby

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Bourke's statement that contested scrums are notallowed in the under 19 game is incorrect.¹ Scrums in schoolboygames are certainly contested. The differences from the seniorgame in terms of contesting are that the scrum cannot be wheeledmore than 45° as opposed to 90°, and the scrum is notallowed to be pushed more than 1.5 m.²

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Credit: DPP/REX

He is also incorrect in stating that in rugby league pushinghas not been allowed since 1996. It is technically still allowedaccording to the rule book, but it is accepted in the game thatit is not done.³

As someone who played rugby union from a very early age andis still playing now, I disagree with the author. I have neverplayed in a game with such an injury in over 20 years, and thescrum does not just allow a tactical advantage—games arewon . . . [Full text of this article]

Dylan M Wilson, paediatric registrar

Redcliffe Hospital, Redcliffe, Brisbane, QLD 4020, Australia dylanwilson1@hotmail.com