It was a fabulous Friday for me as I watched Ireland beat France away from home in Marseille. Forget the location of the movie French Connection the Irish performed the French Disconnection. At the start of the 6 Nations Tournament we can look forward to a Rugger fest in the coming weeks.
Grave concerns surround the game from a player safety perspective as over the years the players have become giant heavily built Trojans. Tackles to the head are increasingly dangerous and one of the French players was red carded last night for tackles I don’t believe he deliberately sought but whose giant frame was an unavoidable steam train in action. One of the French players is known as ‘ The Lorry ‘.
Though dangerous on the pitch less dangerous in the crowd and the giant mauling of yobs at the soccer last weekend when West Bromwich Albion played Wolverhampton Wanderers was a disgrace. To see the French in defeat applaud the Irish victors off the field is behaviour reflected in the crowd.
Yet I remained concerned about the injuries incurred especially as someone laid unconscious in sport when head met steel goal post to create brain trauma ( yes ok you see that in the blogs ). The fact is I’m not sure we have an answer for were the game be changed to tag we would not have that gladiatorial gladness.
Schools are concerned and some parents more so. Neurologists tremor at the sight yet surgeons and doctors, nurses and medics still don the shirts and take to the fields. Yes there is a health warning that hangs over dressing rooms at all times and I flinch when I see brawn attack brain but in the final whistle it tells me life has risks and unless we take life by the scruff of the neck we will never live boldly , gamely and to the full.
We are all at risk , crossing a road , driving a country lane , working under intense pressure, all of life’s intricate tapestries that confront us. Yet live we must and face the inevitable outcomes of fate, destiny and legacy. For those great talented players we pray for their safe passage this tournament and beyond thankful to William Webb Ellis for picking up the ball and running over the line of history
qbitblogger 