Injuries suffered by teenage rugby players 'normally seen in road crashes'
Doctors have described how teenage rugby players have suffered serious injuries that are normally seen in road crashes.
They argued it may be necessary to change the rules around tackling or cut the number of players in school games to prevent the "potentially devastating consequences of these injuries".
Their comments, in the journal BMJ Case Reports, come after more than 70 doctors and health experts wrote to the Government calling for a ban on tackling in school rugby games. They warned of a high risk of serious injury among under-18s and said schools should move to touch rugby instead.
In the latest report, doctors from the department of trauma and orthopedics at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, described three cases where young players were seriously injured during rugby tackles, having reported two cases previously.
They said the types of fractures they suffered are "acetabular fractures... (which) affect the socket of the hip bone, and are generally sustained after violent trauma, such as road traffic accidents".
The teenagers were aged 13 to 16 when they were injured. The injuries occurred while playing rugby union, two during seasonal match play and one during a training drill. All recovered following surgery and rehabilitation.
The doctors said: "In order to prevent the potentially devastating consequences of these injuries it may be necessary to implement rule changes or size restrictions in the juvenile game."
They added: "Many schools and juvenile rugby clubs have adopted a more professional attitude towards the game, with a significant emphasis being placed on weight training and physical size.
"In addition to the problems associated with excessive force in an immature skeleton, it should also be noted that players, while chronologically of the same age, may be heterogeneous in terms of size, stage of development and bone age.
"This heterogeneity may be magnified at the tackle and ruck phases as physically more mature players engage with less mature counterparts, with an associated increase in injury risk.
"An evaluation of the rules at the breakdown and an emphasis on proper tackling could aid injury prevention."
The Rugby Football Union said "high quality coaching, officiating, medical support and appropriate player behaviour" would help to reduce the risk of injury. They also noted the sport in English schools or clubs can be played as either contact or non-contact.
The Department for Education said it expects schools to "be aware of the risks associated with sporting activities and to provide a safe environment for pupils".