Madam, - Rugby referees and parents of young front-row players must be very concerned about the contents of the article "Set-piece thinking must be updated" (Sports, May 31st). As a former front-row player at school in Belvedere College and a member of UCD teams which won the McCorry and Albert O'Connell cups, I support the call in the article for contested scrums to be banned because of the risk of paralysis.
Front-row players are constantly trying to gain advantage over each other by twisting, grinding and pulling which leads to a lowering and eventually a collapse of the scrum. The front-row players nowadays crash into each other before the put-in and this has contributed to an increase in the incidence of spinal injuries to front-row players.
If one player loses his footing as the front rows come together all 16 forwards go to ground instantly. Referees instruct the players to crouch, hold and engage to try to slow this process down. However, the forwards are using these procedures as ways of building momentum before they crash into each other for the contested scrum. There needs to be a very long pause between each part of the crouch-hold-engage procedure if the momentum of the two sets of forwards is to be slowed down.
The substitution of front-row players is a particular problem for referees, as cited in The Irish Times article. If a player comes on to the pitch in place of an injured front-row player the referee is expected to make a judgment about the new player's competence to play in the front row. Many referees would not have any experience of playing as a prop or a hooker and would have great difficulty in making such a judgment. Uncontested scrums are already part of the game in situations where front-row players cannot be replaced by suitably experienced substitutes.
Many players and ex-players will disagree with my view and say that contested scrums are an integral part of the game. However, I agree with the opinion of the medical officer to Nottingham Rugby Club that the consequences of injury are so great that the continuing risk of injury cannot be accepted. In addition, spectators are bored by the constant wheeling, collapsing and resetting of the scrum. It breaks the flow of the game continually.
This very important article has identified an increased risk of serious injury for front-row players and it is an imperative for the rugby governing body to remedy the situation as soon as possible. - Yours, etc,
ROBBIE HARROLD, Donabate Village, Co Dublin.