Safety first

We teach our players the skills and techniques that keep our sport safe and we never play if safety cannot be ensured (poor pitch, unsafe weather etc)

Game Safety

Everyone involved at Orca rugby has a role to play in making the game as enjoyable and safe as possible. Those who hold a coaching position also have a specific responsibility to prevent and manage injuries by:

• Teaching players the correct techniques
• Not selecting players who may not have fully recovered from injury
• Encouraging players to be honest about injuries such as concussion which may not be obviously spotted

Is rugby safe?

We think so, or we wouldn’t have our children involved in the sport! However, like any sport, there are risks. If you are new to rugby, please read this article by a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Is rugby dangerous?

Rugby is no more dangerous than any other similar contact sports. In fact, injury rates and insurance costs are comparable to soccer.  Contrary to many collision sports that involve equipment and padding (i.e. football and hockey) many rugby players enjoy careers lasting into their 40's and longer.

Rugby players are the best tacklers

Rugby tackle techniques are effective and safe for both defensive players and the player being tackled.

In this concussion-safety environment, football programs are turning to rugby to teach their players how to safely and effectively tackle the opposition. A few years ago, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll transitioned to rugby style tackling (with the help of professional rugby coaches). That first year of implementing rugby tackles into their program, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl. If you currently check the Seahawks tackle statistics, you will see that they are one of the NFL’s top tackling teams.

Rugby tackling involves heads-up shoulder tackling. Rugby players lead with the shoulder — never the head, because they wear no protective headgear — with an emphasis on hitting the ball carrier hard in the strike zone (above the knees to the lower chest) while wrapping the opposition up with their arms and driving them to the ground. This is one of the reasons why rugby players do not wear protective equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads. Rugby tackles are much safer. The head-up, shoulder-first approach to tackling helps prevent head and neck injuries and concussions.