The second worst thing that a bloke wants to hear from his new girlfriend is “size doesn’t matter”. The worst is naturally if you hear “when are you going to ask me to marry you?”
Since the advent of professionalism rugby union has developed a new breed of ever more physical and highly toned athletes – almost unrecognisable in physical attributes to players of decades past.
Players now are fitter, faster and fatter – the last one being a euphemism for ‘bigger’, obviously. However, I didn’t want to destroy the rather neat alliterative nature of the phrase (and in any case I wouldn’t say it to their face!).
Rugby Union – Is Size Important?
The Welsh centres this weekend will be Jamie Roberts and George North, a combination that is bigger (and faster) than former top international players like Bill Beaumont and Alastair McHarg –neither of whom took any nonsense on the pitch.
It is scary to watch some of today’s games and I am grateful that the closest I get is in the stands or on TV. The most worrying moment now is if, in the excitement of seeing a try, I drop some of my pasty on the new sofa and the Mrs catches me.
It seems almost inevitable that the ever lengthening list of injuries and early retirements now is a corollary of the professional era, increasing time spent in the gym and on better nutritional supplements. When Jonah Lomu burst onto the scene (and out of his shirt like the Incredible Hulk) it was seen very much as a bit of an anomaly. Will Carling actually called him ‘a freak’ – although I bet he said it very quietly if Jonah was anywhere near! If Jonah arrived today he’d still be special but wouldn’t stand out like he did back then. Most defences have worked out how to stop a bullocking run, but not how to prevent guys like Sonny Bill and Julian Savea from off- loading and creating the break. You have to wonder how much heavier and stronger players can get – and what will be the toll. Figures show that over the last three years injury enforced retirements in England have risen by 80%. There is, quite rightly, a new concentration on the how concussion is dealt with, but this is just one problem from the increased physicality in the game. A recent newspaper report indicated that out of English professional rugby union’s estimated turnover of £280million only £800,000 is set aside for player insurance. An estimated £2m is paid to fund dinners and other social events for the RFU.
There has been a lot of media coverage for Allyson Pollock’s book in which she advocates stopping children playing rugby. Having said that, there is a case in schools for segregating kids by weight (as they do in judo). This is particularly true in New Zealand where many of the Island lads are substantially bigger at an early age. It might also help to keep kids interested in the game rather than putting them off before they discover how much fun it is.
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