GOOD NEWS for those who advocate further safety measures in the game of rugby. The SRU, in a coordinated move with the other home unions, will be announcing the adoption of the International Rugby Board's "Rugby Ready" programme and – here's the important part – making attendance at the course mandatory. The announcement is due in the coming weeks.
The IRB's Rugby Ready programme gives its goals on the governing body's website:
"The Rugby Ready programme aims to support individual coaches, players, referees and unions in preparing to play the game and with good practice models for physical
conditioning, technique, injury prevention and injury management."
As one Murrayfield expert put it, this is a move away from the treatment of injuries and towards their prevention. He also labelled the adoption of Rugby Ready a move to "de-medicalise" the whole situation, an effort to hand back the responsibility for safety to the people in the front line. A similar scheme has had noted success in New Zealand in raising awareness of the dangers inherent in the game and, by doing so, lowering them. The move should be warmly welcomed.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Nikki Walker who keeps his place in the Ospreys side to face Leicester this afternoon. The big Scotland winger has been more fortunate that his team-mate Gavin Henson who was dropped for two matches, including this afternoon's crucial clash at Welford Road, after missing a training session. Kick off is at 12.30pm (Sky Sports 1) for the biggest game of the day.
A CLUB player accompanied by his coach was up in front of the SRU's disciplinary panel a few weeks back when they saw Hawks' feisty coach Peter Wright in the same room. Assuming, as you would, that "Wrighty" was in the same boat as they were, imagine the surprise to find that the one time bad boy of Scottish rugby was actually in training to be a disciplinary official.
HOW MUCH are our top rugby stars paid? Well, not enough, to go by a recent incident at Raeburn Place. Those who are feeling the credit crunch can watch Accies play for free by going to the public park that borders Raeburn Place and peering over the wall. A few weeks back both Mike and David Blair were spotted hanging over the wall, both on tip toes, watching younger brother Alex play for the Accies first team. Mike Blair is on the IRB's Player of the Year shortlist. Can Edinburgh Rugby please pay the man enough money for him to afford the £10 entrance fee to Raeburn Place. It's a disgrace.
IN A week that has seen a training ground bust-up between Danny Cipriani and Josh Lewsey, most commentators have dismissed the incident as something that happens occasionally and nothing more. Indeed Leicester take some pride in their forward dust-ups, sadly diminished since the retirement of hooker Richard Cockerill. Jim Telfer certainly approved of them in his day. When Damien Cronin and Graham Ellis had a dust-up the great coach sidled up to Cronin after the brouhaha had died down and patted the Scotland lock on the back with the words: "Good boy Damien."
The full article contains 541 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
