The Rugby Size Conundrum

Martin Johnson named his England squad today and the main story rather than rugby is the injury crisis throughout English rugby. Specifically this time round it is the prop forwards that have suffered. The speculation surrounding this injury crisis has centered on the size of players. 

There is no doubt that rugby players are bigger than they have ever been. Allied to this they are stronger fitter and faster. The meaning of this is that the impacts are bigger than ever before. However bigger impacts mean more   injuries and  more severe injuries with longer recovery times.

The catch 22 rugby faces is that the excitement is that a big hit generates excitement and excitement generates crowds and with that revenues. The problem is that the players will not last.