EDITOR:
In the wake of the tragedy that occurred at Three Oaks Senior High last weekend, there has been an outcry for the mandated use of rugby headgear on Prince Edward Island. The current attitude of the public, in regard to the effectiveness of headgear at preventing brain injury, is both misguided and potentially dangerous, and therefore, must be addressed.
Rugby headgear is particularly potent at protecting the wearer from laceration and abrasion of the scalp and ears; its intended use. On the other hand, headgear wearers show no significant reduction in brain injury incidents, from their non-headgear-wearing counterparts; this becomes problematic, when tied with the common misconception that rugby headgear is effective at preventing brain injury.
Wearing headgear may facilitate a false sense of security and a lead with the head attitude that could result in a significant increased risk of injury. In fact, the majority of both junior and senior rugby players, who believe that headgear offers protection from brain injury, showed a large increase in aggressive technique and confidence in tackling harder, leading to an increased risk of injury at the tackle and at the breakdown. While the public’s concern for player safety is sincere and appreciated, the mandated use of rugby headgear may result in an increased risk of injury for players.
Jordan Johnston,
Hampton
