Rugby by its very nature is a contact sport, and with high impact collisions, there
is always a risk of injury. It is essential to stress the point that players should
be properly coached to play safe rugby, and this is especially important when teaching
the correct execution in contact situations. Even more important is to highlight
the fact that Safe rugby is also Smart and Winning rugby. What this essentially
means is that if you train and coach your players to approach contact situations
in a safe manner, you will also be aiding your players to perform these tasks more
effectively in the game. By performing these tasks more effectively, you ultimately
improve individual player performance and indirectly boost overall team performance.
From a technical perspective, this section predominantly focuses on the tackle,
ball carries, and scrum components of play, as they are most renowned for incurring
serious and/or catastrophic injuries in rugby union. This section also brings in
the referee’s role in keeping players safe on the field during all aspects of play,
and ensuring a fair and safe contest at all times