Older players can handle heavy tackling better than the under-16s
Schools and local sports unions around New South Wales have rejected the recent public appeal for rugby weight categorisation at school level rugby.
Weight categorisation resurfaced in the media this month when a 15-year-old boy, Jake Kedzlie, passed away after a rugby tackle. The fatality was allegedly caused by the unfair weight advantage of his opponent.
The tragic death reignited the call for weight limits from medical professionals and many parents.
The consensus is that injuries and fatalities could be prevented with a system of weight categorisation rather than age categorisation, which is currently in place at school level rugby.
But contrary to previous reports, weight classes will not be introduced.
Jackie Patrick, executive officer of the New South Wales Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) confirmed that weight categorisation at school level rugby will not be implemented.
“We don’t use weight classes because we don’t see it as necessary – age categorisation hasn’t shown fault so far,” she said. “[NSWPSSA] doesn’t see weight categorisation anywhere in the future of school rugby.”
Ms Patrick and local school sports masters agreed that weight classes would cause ‘unnecessary administration’ for the sport.
Resistance to weight classes was also seen as a threat to rugby in schools with small enrolments.
“Small schools will struggle to successfully establish teams if weight categorisation is implemented,” Ms Patrick said.
Andrew Elliot, executive officer of the Australian Schools Rugby Union (ABN), confirmed that despite pressure and media hype, weight limits at secondary school level would not be adopted.
“It is possible that a system of exemptions would be implemented for those players who are particularly small for their age, or particularly large for their age, [and that they] may be able to either play up or down an age group,” Mr Elliot said.
“Each school association will look at systems that ensure the safety of their players is maximised.”
According to Mr Elliot, no sound model for weight categorisation has been proposed.
The refusal to implement weight limits was met with disappointment from many parents and professionals.
Research physician and former Springbok rugby player, Dr Edrich Krantz, said schools and local rugby unions should seriously reconsider weight categorisation.
“Weight classes isn’t a new debate but the high level of injuries shows that something should be done,” he said.
“Up to the age of 16, growth plates in the body haven’t set; anyone that’s tackled by a player with a weight advantage could suffer severe and even permanent injury.”
Dr Krantz said the need to ‘bulk up’ by many young rugby players has led to the unnecessary use of protein supplements and even triggered steroid use.
“The pressure for size-gain in young boys could also be relaxed if weight classes are successfully implemented.”
He said weight classes would positively influence young players and establish a healthier rugby culture adding that the trend of new rugby rules has made the sport ‘more injury-prone’.
“In my professional opinion, contact rugby should not be played at primary school level and head gear for all age groups should be compulsory.”
