Will I get hurt if I play rugby?

Question

My friend wanted me to join his team as a winger and play with 30 year old guys. I'm only 19 and 140 pounds 5'9 do you think I would get crushed?

Answer 1

You will be absolutely fine.

I'm only 5'1, 135 pounds and I play varsity rugby with my highschool.

Just listen to everything your coach has to say, play the game properly and you won't get hurt.

tackle low and remember to pass backwards.

Everyone makes rugby out to be such a rough rough sport, but when your actually out there, it's not as bad as you think it's going to be.

My coach always told me, if your not nervous for your first game, then you shouldn't be playing the sport.

hope that helps a little bit.

Answer 2

some of the lightest players in the world are the best players does that answer your question

Answer 3

You'll be fine.  People like ben_tran69 have clearly never played the game.

Football is FAR more dangerous as the way that people hit each other in that sport (if you can call it a sport) are more focussed towards a single spot on a body, and all the force exerted by the tackler, is delivered by one point.  

This principle can be seen when you see someone stand on a bed of nails.  Nothing happens.  If you stand on one nail, well, you can see what happens.

Tackling in rugby is dampened, the tackler must use their arms on the body first and then follow with the shoulder, if no arms are used, its called a shoulder charge and is penalisable with ejection from the game.

If you know anything about physics, you know that the force at a point is conversely related to the area which its applied to, thus, a scrum, for example, has a lot less impact on engage than it appears, because you're bound with 2 other guys in the front row.

In football, players dive at others without use of the arms.  If you concentrate all that force into the point of a shoulder, and impact it directly onto one spot on a target (which would be the same size as the shoulder, obviously) you would see a lot more damage done than if you add up the area from the palms of the hands, to the inside of the arms, to the chest and then distribute the force onto an area roughly the size of the target's chest.

See how this works ben?  Now that i've shot his arguement down, I'll answer your question.  Pay attention to the coach when he shows you how to tackle, keep your eyes up, and remember to never put your head in front of the runner's body (eg. tackle with your outside shoulder) and you'll be fine.  In my experience, coaching and playing rugby, if you're hesitant, you'll get hurt.  Put everything you have into every tackle, ruck and maul and you'll be fine.

Answer 4

There may be chances you might get hurt...but ot life-threatening. Maybe a few bumps and bruises...At first they will be tough on you cause its your first time...But you will get used to it...I am a girl...and when I was 9...I played football and i was only 56lbs while everyone else was almost 100...and I did not get killed..so good luck. i think you will do great!

Answer 5

You'll be fine, you might get crushed but chances are you'll just jump straight back up. Oh and make sure you're well warmed and stretched before the game starts.

Answer 6

I'm almost 99.9% sure you'll get crushed. Rugby is very violent sport to play. I would say it's worse than football since you don't get to wear pads or a helmet. Also on you situation... the age range is quite big so I'm sure you'll be able to knock some people out.

And one more thing, if you run really fast then that's is a good thing to be able to maneuver around people as they're coming at you.

Answer 7

I'm in Australia and I played as a teenager. Don't be discouraged because of your size. Smaller guys are more nimble and can run around more without tiring as quickly as the bigger guys do.

Smaller guys play in the backs, where you have to be fast and agile. Or if you have good passing skills you can have a play-making role.

If you're playing on the wing, make sure you pick the side that suits you best. Because you're right next to the sideline some wingers have a preferred side which they receive and pass the ball on. Work on your sprint speed because wingers need to be quick. A winger's main job is a finisher - the team may work the ball towards the sideline and a winger's speed gets them to the try line. They score lots of tries. In defense, you hang back and help the fullback to mop up any opposition kicks.

It's the role of the forwards (bigger guys) to run the ball into the wall of defenders.

All players on the field have to run, tackle, be tackled and pass though. You will learn proper tackling technique, the smallest player can always take down the biggest guy.

In terms of injury, the most common ones are leg injuries from falling or being tackled awkwardly, head high tackles are illegal. Usually for the next couple of days after a game you'll be sore and have bruises but that's all part of it. You'll become really bloody fit and you'll toughen up eventually.

Answer 8

You'll be fine....pain in a tackle is a part of the game but you should be fine....the size of the other players may be offset by your speed...

If you are on the wings....you are not always in the action anyways....

Answer 9

Not at all

I'm from SA, our country holds the World Champion title, and rugby is in our nations blood.

If been to quite a lot of matches, and the injuries aren't life threatening. I am also a rugby player.

The key to keep yourself from injury, is to stay fit as possible.

Staying with, and building muscles will protect your body against injuries.

Your age shouldn't be an excuse, or hold you back.

There is a lot of International players, that is 19 years old or 20.

Then, if you want, you can look into getting yourself some shoulder pads, or a scrum cap.

This would only give little protection, but believe me, it makes you feel a bit saver.

As you say, your going to play wing, and you don't really take major contact like the front row players. And your not jumping in the line outs.

Scrums and line-outs, is some of the most dangerous.

Hope you start playing, and find this useful.

Answer 10

I think you would get crushed but it will be a great feeling playing with all these large blokes, and if you took a few to ground, you would feel pround. Don't be affraid of rugby, just get angry and do your best

Answer 11

The chances of getting hurt would be greater than even football. You will receive injury sooner or later. It could be major or not major. s***w it though. You risk your life everyday driving a car so Rugby is not as bad as that. Get out there and give your best effort.