It is and although they/you know the risks I can imagine it's a worry. Truth is it's an unfortunate part of the game but to remove the risk would fundamentally end the game. Like everyone else, I don't have an answer.

The game has improved this area though.
Head assessments are a massive step forward from a player stumbling around and sending the physio off because he doesn't want to come off, Ronnie Gibbs style.
Also outlawing direct hits to the head and the shoulder charge are improvements that were needed because of the concussion issues that go with them.

We all like to see a big hit but it still needs to be safe.

I'm being pedantic here but it needs to be as safe as possible, I think we have to accept two 18 stone men running into each other at full pelt can never be truly safe.

100% with this, but as a dad it’s great to see Jordan put a shot on but head in hands time when he takes one. There’s also another thing and that is fractures around the head, ie cheek, jaw, eye sockets etc are hard to detect at the time and most players continue to play on after their HIA.

When my lad played under age RL I never even noticed the collisions, at that age, it wasn't much more than playground stuff. As he got older and used to play the occasional season in open age I became more and more uncomfortable. His mother simply refused to watch him in those games, it was too much for her. He doesn't play anymore and I have to say I don't miss it. Of course, had it been his living and as such he would have had some rewards for the risk he took, it would have been different but as you say no less nerve-racking.

Funny thing is he only ever picked up one modestly serious injury playing RL, I've lost count how many injuries he's had playing 5-a-side football and that includes a concussion or two.

It's a fine line.

A lot on here will remember the Leeds half-back of 50 years ago, Mick Shoebottom, whom I worked with at Bison Concrete many years ago. a regular international, Shoey sustained a bad head injury in a controversial tackle with Colin Dixon , the big Salford forward. It put him out of the game and left him mentally scarred for life and an early death.

I agree. There are always going to be accidents and you can't wrap them in cotton wool but making head shots illegal as an example is just a sensible precaution that doesn't affect the game.

A few broken finger nails, Chinese burns and few torn short pockets no doubt Vasty as well

My lad had been suffering poor form and had been for few games been waiting his chance to redeem it, standing on the touch line we had talked about putting effort into his runs and being well over 6 ft and big framed he knew he had what it takes to break through the line, his chance came mid way into the first half and with his first he steamed but caught their best player full in the run who bravely tried to tackle him and he hit the ground calling backwards hanging his head on the ground, he was concussed and had to go to hospital cancelling the game all together as we had to wait for medical treatment, at that point I thought size not age should make a factor when young kids are playing, I'm glad he doesn't play anymore

I think between us we’ve pinpointed Rugby, especially RL great weakness.

The older and bigger it’s participants the more dangerous it becomes and the more people drop out.

You’ve got to be dedicated and a bit mad to play at amateur level. Playing pro makes total sense and because of this so does playing junior rugby. After that it makes less and less and thus participation levels lower and lower.

What I’m trying to say is that RL more than most is one for the pro’s. They deserve every penny they get and then some. It is more than a game imo due to the risks involved.

I’d love to see my lad playing for Trinity because some modest rewards are there, just. Running around for Eastmoor for free, that’s harder to take. When you boil it down to its basics, RL is a brutal sport only really suited to the truly committed or the slightly bonkers.

God bless em.

I remember him redscat played against him I played stand off too great tough player Bisons and Burton's were top Leeds teams then I'm going back to early 60s

i remember that Bisons were coached at one time in the sixties by Pete Render, very devoted to the amateur game.

Renders were a common name around Leeds and hunslet in them days lad

Just watched the film concussion starring Will Smith true events about a Dr Bennet Omalu who had the medical knowledge and through autopsies proved brain damage due to head collisions, you can see the impact it a have on the game over there

Former New England Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez was suffering from stage 3 Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 27. You don’t need to be a medical professional to see the differences in the appearance of his brain compared to ‘average’ 27 year olds. Was also reading an article about Steve Thompson the ex RU player, has early onset dementia at 42. Very sobering

I've (literally) just finished reading David Hinchliffe's book - They Walked on Water - which, for those not familiar with it, gives a detailed account of the '68 Watersplash final and the people involved and I have to say what a fascinating read it was. All profits from the book go to the Rugby League Benevolent Fund which obviously help former players who may now be suffering from mental health issues such as Rob Burrow and Don Fox (now unfortunately deceased obviously) and it is still available through Amazon here ...... https://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Walked-Wa ... 0957559313 *** Poptart/ Wildthing...I suspect that this may breach the A.U.P. but it is for a good cause ?? ***

I've (literally) just finished reading David Hinchliffe's book - They Walked on Water - which, for those not familiar with it, gives a detailed account of the '68 Watersplash final and the people involved and I have to say what a fascinating read it was. All profits from the book go to the Rugby League Benevolent Fund which obviously help former players who may now be suffering from mental health issues such as Rob Burrow and Don Fox (now unfortunately deceased obviously) and it is still available through Amazon here ...... https://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Walked-Wa ... 0957559313 *** Poptart/ Wildthing...I suspect that this may breach the A.U.P. but it is for a good cause ?? ***

I know we'll probably never meet face to face but I'd love to hear the stories you two have from the old days both playing and watching.
My dad spoke highly of Bison. Didn't know Burton had a team. Some of my relations worked there in those days. Massive place. . All ladies though so no rugby.

Never really been interested in the amateur game PT apart from when my son in law and grandson were involved with Crigglestone All Blacks about twelve years ago, and never played since schooldays., But I've watched the mighty Trin since 1956 so witnessed the good and bad times. I never even watched that great Bison team of the mid-sixties. During his Leeds days If I saw Shoebottom in the works yard on a Monday I'd usually stand and have a five minute chat about the previous game, more out of politeness than genuine interest (it was the time of great hatred between Trinity and Leeds following that 1968 final) . I seem to recall another member of the Bison side. I think his name was Preece or Priest and was from the Hunslet area. So not really very much to say on that topic,PT, I'm afraid.

Here's a few more for you to remember, BOCM and Hull Dock Labour Board, and a couple from Wakefield, Brookhouse and Wakefield Loco, I'm sure you played against them.

Alan Preece redscat hard as nails centre went on to play with Hunslet when they were a top side playing at parkside. Hull dockers dickie lad famous Green and white hoops like Celtic always got a tough welcome when you played at hull another topside there wasB0CM,never played against Wakefield loco but did many times against Brookhouse the team who loco changed their name to some top teams in Wakefield in them days,Trinity rovers,Stanley Rangers and Eastmoor,alongside Brookhouse meant there was some tasty derbys most Saturdays in the city,and yes poptart Burton's were a very strong side

Be interesting to know the teams that were around in the sixties in Wakefield and which ones are still about, even if the names are different. I imagine there were far more than now.

Brookhouse had a great team in the 60’s and my brother went to watch them when they played Doncaster on their Barnsley Road pitch in a challenge cup tie.
Apparently there were 2-3000 spectators there, which is good because on the same day Wakefield were playing Wigan, also in the cup in front of 28,000!
Dons beat Brookhouse but only just!

It was Wakefield Loco mate not Brookhouse, they were the team that followed on from the break up of the Loco, the final score was 5-0 to Donny, I was there fwiw, incidentally 2 of Klav Kalashs uncles played for Loco that day his uncle Len on the wing and his uncle Brian at stand off, maybe your mistaking them with Brookhouse who played Widnes in the CC 1st round 2 or 3 years later at Widnes and lost something like 23-5.

You'll be surprised vasty when I started playing u 19s early /60s and open age just after the teams I mentioned were the main ones along with sharlston and featherstone miners my memory might not be 100 percent but teams like Westgate came just after the early 60s normy have always had good teams and players but a lot of teams like Duke of York came via a Sunday league which was introduced, because there wasn't a lot of teams side like Brookhouse had a better first 13 than most teams stood on the touchline most weeks and with trinity in them days being probably the best team in the pro game it was difficult for some damn good players with travel not being an option to get a chance at the toplevel

I'm almost certain that it was Brookhouse as 1315 stated. dickie. Alan Smith that played on the wing for Leeds in the 1968 final, and Great Britain, played that day. I thought Donny won either 2-0 or 4-0.