JPR Williams believes rugby is too physical
Welsh legend JPR Williams believes that rugby has become too physical and that something needs to be done in order to stop the large amount of career-threatening injuries.
The former Welsh and British and Irish Lion is now a consultant surgeon who specialises in limiting injuries in rugby.
"I was never averse to putting in big tackles, but the modern game has gone a big step further."
England international Phil Vickery is the latest player who has had to retire from the game after he injured his neck with club side Wasps.
Lewis Moody has only recently returned from an eye injury that has caused permanent damage to the sight in one of his eyes, while there have been countless injuries to a number of players ahead of the Autumn Internationals.
Williams believes that this is due to the demands of professional rugby and that players have become too big and physical.
The number of matches is also an issue, and players now play highly competitive rugby on a weekly basis.
In addition, The Magners League has increased the number of teams in the competition, as they aim to promote the sport in Italy.
The Autumn Internationals and summer tours are another example of a growing number of fixtures.
"Players train more, they are bigger, stronger and tackle harder. With the tension between clubs, regions and countries, today's player’s play more often and at higher intensity than ever before."
Williams also admitted that the increase in the amount of training and the physical nature of training sessions were also responsible for causing injuries.
"They're being subjected to a vast increase in training by the fitness coaches, to the extent that many injuries now sustained in training are from overuse. These injuries are often career-ending. It's time for the game to wake up and take this seriously,"
said the former Welsh full-back.
Tags: