Rugby Players Become Walking Wounded Gym Monkeys

With the weekend seeing Nick Easter and Julian White both picking-up injuries, 26 of the 64 men in the England Elite and Saxons squads are unavailable or serious doubts for the Autumn internationals.

This at a time where Simon Shaw – recovering from a broken metatarsal himself – criticised the standard of rugby by churning out “gym monkeys”; and Lions doctor Gary O’Driscoll admitting he is “terrified about rugby” due to the modern player’s size, in the October 25th edition of The Rugby Paper.

Shaw is no whippet at six-foot eight-inches and just over nineteen stone, but the 36-year old Lion has a strong point, especially given he is one of the few left in pro-rugby who experienced the amateur days.

“There is an argument that people are spending too much time in the gym, creating more of an athlete than a rugby player," Shaw said in an interview with the BBC, "but there is a limit to how far you can stretch your body.

“There's a lot of pressure, especially on the young guys coming through, to be fitter, stronger and faster.”

Forwards have always been big, but now they are massive.

The difference in the backs is perhaps more evident and dramatic.

Take latest French sensation Mathieu Bastareaud. At 21-years of age, the six-foot centre is close to 17-and-a-half stone.

Compare this to England World Cup winner, Will Greenwood, who stood three inches taller and weighed just under two-and-a-half-stone less in his World Cup winning prime.

Stats from official club websites and the IRB 2003 RWC website

Now Arsenal doctor, Gary O’Driscoll, said: “Before the tour [Lions ’09 to South Africa] got underway we expected to send 10-11 players home which in itself is perverse. The rate of attrition today is simply frightening.”

After the Second Test of the summer, five Lions ended up in hospital, including O’Driscoll’s cousin – Brian.

Gary O’Driscoll believes, “people in charge need to act quickly because the unknown is the long-term damage this is doing.

“I would say weight limits are a possible solution.”

It is certainly an unknown force. Another of England’s 2003 heroes, Richard Hill, now uses a walking stick largely due to the impact he took during his career; though are we ever likely to see teams having to adhere to a weight limit?

It perhaps makes sense, though it would be more dangerous to include a light-weight forward to compensate for a centre such as Bastareaud. The sacrifices which may have to be made could leave a weaker front-row and thus creating an increased risk of injury.

Coaches need to win games to keep their jobs, and if this means optimising their players’ bulk and strength to achieve this, they will, even if more injuries occur.

It is not satisfactory to say ‘it is the modern game’, though unless something is done soon, it might not be too long before it descends into a human skittle contest, devoid of skills Shaw sees draining from the game.