When I told my dad I was going to a rugby game as a class field trip, he replied by saying “Rugby is a barbaric game played by gentlemen. Football is a gentlemen’s game played by barbarians.” Having had the chance to see both games live as well as having lived in America for 21 years and amongst the Parisians for a little over two weeks, I completely agree. For 80 minutes we watched gentlemen run around the field tackling each other with full force, in order to get possession of the ball. Not ten minutes went by when the medics were not called to the field to assess a player’s injury, whether it was a torn ear, broken nose, or a particularly strong blow to the head. Surprisingly, none of the athletes were taken off the field to recover, they all decided to play through the pain.
Based on the nature of the sport it’s not surprising the number of head injuries that can occur just within one game. In a study we read this week for class by Philip Decq and colleagues in 2016, it was reported that players may suffer from between four and eight concussions for every 1,000 hours they spend playing rugby. It was found that retired rugby players are at higher risk of suffering from depression and mild cognitive disorder. Even with the roar of the crowd, the joy of winning and the thrill of the game, is it worth it for athletes, particularly younger kids, to play such a dangerous sport?
As it turns out, there are also several cognitive benefits that are gained from playing sports such as rugby. The physicality of the sport increases blood flow and oxygenation of the brain, which then supports neuronal growth in the hippocampus and the production and release of certain neurotransmitters. This can lead to more synaptic connections and an overall increase in brain tissue density. In a study of young athletes, these changes have found to be associated with improved memory, attention and verbal skills (Diamond, 2015). These skills are all highly beneficial for school-aged children and often result in better performance academically. There are also various other health-related benefits of exercise that have been well studied, such as better cardiovascular and psychological health when people are active on a regular basis. Despite the serious risks associated with playing rugby, it looks like there’s a chance the benefits outweigh them.
Resources:
Decq, P., Gault, N., Blandeau, M., Kerdraon, T., Berkal, M., ElHelou, A., . . . Peyrin, J. (2016). Long-term consequences of recurrent sports concussion. Act Neurochir,158, 289-300. doi:10.1007/s00701-015-2681-4
Diamond, A. B. (2015). The Cognitive Benefits of Exercise in Youth. Current Sports Medicine Reports,14(4), 320-326. doi:10.1249/jsr.0000000000000169