Craig Dowd
Technique often not enough to limit effects of contact
Craig Dowd
July 9, 2014

It was sad to learn of the death of Jordan Kemp when playing for the Otamatea club in Northland rugby at the weekend. We are getting bigger and stronger, and the game we used to know is changing, so I wonder if we might have to ask how do we protect each other.

Players now are bigger, faster, stronger and heavier than ever before, and it's crazy where the game is going, and freakish the way some of these players are developing, as humans are getting bigger.

It is scary when you get big humans against other big humans, and it is not the same game that was played 20 years ago. No wonder kids of 18-years-old are getting in trouble. We need to have a look at it to find how we can protect everyone.

Concussion is something that has always been there, but it is worse now.

There is a lot more awareness of concussion, but still it is scary when you get players who weigh 120kg and run 100 minutes in 11 seconds; it is scary when you see the power they can create. It takes a big man to be able to stop someone who is flying downfield at that speed. To avoid concussion in that situation requires good technique but sometimes that isn't enough.

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