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THE STATE OF
junior rugby
By Brendan Fogarty
HAVE WE LOST the essence of
the game of rugby, where the
focus is on fun, growing the
individual and ensuring that we
teach the right values? While
many will argue that this is not
case, the stats, the sidelines and
intensity during games will tell a
different story.
I have referred to this change
in coaching style, ethos and
emphasis in a previous article.
Paraphrased; pre-season rugby
in February, tournaments in
April, and 10 months of the
year specialisation, a win at all
costs level driven by logs for U11
and U13 Primary schools and
schools marketing themselves
based on rugby results. The use
of social media has played a
massive role in parents and
schools posting results, video
clips and opinions on games and
officials. The murky
underground world of “poaching
talent” is in itself a whole article
on its own. In my opinion all of
the above are totally
counterproductive to producing
quality rugby players. A game
turned into a programme to
drive all of the above.
We are seeing more softtissue
injuries and an alarmingly
big increase in concussions. Once
again, in my view, these are
caused by rugby no longer being
coached as a contact sport, but
rather as a collision sport! We
see it on TV and we try to
emulate it with our junior sides.
Their young bodies are not ready
for this and certainly their
young minds are ill-equipped to
be dealing with the intensity
that is being imposed on them.
Is there a solution? Yes, we
need to be looking at innovative
ways to make the game safer
Above and right: For boys to
continue to enjoy the game, head of
rugby at the Prep, Brendan Fogarty
suggests that there are changes
required in the approach from
adults, both on the sidelines and
with coaching.
without losing the ethos of the
contact nature of the game.
Coaching philosophy is key, as
are correct tackling and rucking
techniques and, above all,
educating the adults on the
sidelines. The UK has recently
brought out a coaching
curriculum that emphasises
age-appropriate coaching and
law amendments at certain ages.
In simple terms there is a gradual
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