Many children, from 11, are required, sometimes against their will and the will of their parents, to play contact rugby in schools. 73 academics and doctors have recently called upon Ministers of Sport, Health and Education across the UK and Ireland to end this practice and institute touch rugby.

The UK government has selected rugby union and rugby league as two of the five target sports in schools for increasing engagement up to 2017 despite research showing contact and tackling in rugby is associated with a high risk and rate of serious injuries including concussion, fractures, ligamentous tears and spinal injuries. Studies show that rugby injury can result in significant time loss from school and physical activities. Furthermore, PE teachers are not required to have first-aid training, knowledge of rugby or knowledge of concussion, and there is no system of injury monitoring and prevention. It therefore makes sense to play touch and not tackle rugby in schools.