Sir, – Further to "UK doctors and health experts call for ban on tackling in school rugby" (March 2nd), I have decided to stop my boys playing rugby.
Instead I will buy them a new Xbox and a rugby game to play on it. Much healthier. Or, actually, now that I think of it, the risk of serious injury will actually increase as the four of them, cooped up all day and with no outlet for their normal male physicality, fight over two controllers.
Maybe I’ll get a trampoline instead. Oh no, just checked and saw that the risk of injury is higher than from rugby. Hurling? Oh no, flying sticks and a hard ball. Hockey? Cricket? More hard balls and sticks. Damn. Soccer? Perfect. This way they can learn to pretend they’re injured.
Or maybe instead we can ensure that tackles are safe and that we are properly vigilant regarding head injuries. – Yours, etc,
Dr ALAN ROSSITER, MVB
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.