Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Reality check is needed

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7554.1391-b

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

Letter

Rugby union should ban contested scrums

Reality check is needed

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

EDITOR—I write with reference to Bourke's personal view.¹There is no doubt that paraplegia is absolutely devastating.However, let's get things in proportion—based on Bourke'snumbers, the risk of contracting a spinal injury is tiny. Bourkestates he attends 25 home matches per season and has done sofor 30 years; that makes 750 matches. I assume there are roughlythe same number of away matches, making 1500 games in 30 years.A typical game may expect a scrummage every five minutes orso, say eight per half or 16 per match. That's 24 000. And inthose, two consenting adults—fully aware of the risk—havesuffered lifelong injury: a rate of 0.000083 for NottinghamRugby Football Club. Still devastating, I agree.

But on the basis of this, is Bourke really suggesting we shouldstop a fantastic sport enjoyed by so many? If that's the case,horse riding needs . . . [Full text of this article]

Malcolm Cameron, consultant surgeon

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB1 2QQ malcolm.cameron@addenbrookes.nhs.uk