Has anyone died while they where playing rugby?

Answer 1

In the 110 years that Rugby has been played, there has been only 71 recorded deaths in the sport. These were mostly from broken necks during collapsed scrums, and from hard head collisions causing concussions or alot worse. A tragic incident in Australia saw a 16 year old boy collide with a goal post after a tackle and die in hospital from a brain concussion.

Most injuries occur because of the mix-match of fitness levels and sizes of players on the teams.

Although rugby union is a dangerous sport, the risk of death is extremely low. This is due to better coaching standards and practising certain safety techniques. Of course, padding and protection have played a huge part in lowering the risk of injury and state of the art medical facilities around the world have healed even the most serious inuries.

So, in conclusion:

Wear pads, attend training frequently and stop telling yourself that you could die from a wee tackle. Even the ladies can take a hit better than some men! :D

Answer 2

I don't think you would ever be able to get an exact figure.

However right from amateur to professional level you get insurance against death when you are a player.

At London Irish Amateur its £1million. Proffesionals would be many multiples of this.

Deaths in rugby would most likely come from kneck, head or back injuries.

(edited)

The true number of total deaths is unknown since rugby was created 1823 and also because rugby is so world wide. A few stats have appeared from time to time, such as between the years 1890-1893, 71 players in England alone were killed due to rugby related injuries. Since then the IRB (International Rugby Board, created in 1886) regulated rules as to what a safe tackle is. Yet since then there have still been possibly many thousands of players killed mostly within amateur, college level, and youth level playing world wide. Now a days hits are regulated even more for players safety yet incidents still occur both by malicious intent or accident (i.e. Early October 2010 Brendon Leonard made accidental head to head contact with Lachie Munro in the ITM Cup. Causing severe head and spine damage to Brendon and causing him to bleed from the ears and become unconscious for several hours.) Many players careers have been ended and others lives have been changed as a whole due to rugby injuries mostly paralysis or loss of movement in limbs, loss of limbs, or loss of vision due to the venomous eye gouge. Cheap hits (i.e. cleat stomps, spear tackle, eye gouging, tackle drops, or dives...ext.) still pose a serious problem which have lead to deaths and many injuries, the IRB has worked to crack down on these by banning the assailant for multiple games, years, or from a life of rugby.

Many people where rugby is less popular (i.e. United States) still look at rugby as "wimpy" due to it's "less impacting hits" now a days. Yet with 180+ years of playing and regulations plus possibly many thousands of deaths in it's history world wide at all levels (thankfully getting less as the years move on), and it's millions of injures some of which are life changing...I'd say they knew what they were doing. Rugby still poses a serious risk to anyone who plays it (like me), rugby hits should not be taken lightly as some hits that seem light are in fact putting near a thousands of pounds (sometimes more) of force on an unarmored body.

Answer 3

Recently, there was a bloke from Sydney who died while playing a game of Rugby League. He got shoulder charged in the heart region. He got up and kept on playing, but after the game he went to the hopsital and they said to him, your fine go get some rest, when he went back to his house, his mum found him dead while lying on the couch.

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There are records of deaths associated with the game. In majority they have occurred after the match because of injuries incurred. Many of these sad events have been due to head and neck injuries. The game IS tough and as many internationals have commented on in recent months, "hits are bigger, player speed and momentum has increased in both codes in the past 10 years and as a result many tackles are taking their toll".

Answer 4

Sadly yes there have been fatalities over the years. However, players working with the IRB and referee associations work tirelessly to reduce the risk, like sport accident do happen. Which is why there are some very specific guidelines regarding the contact areas.

Answer 5

during the 110 years that rugby has been played 71 people have died mostly of broken necks

Answer 6

185 world wide, bout 10 professional

Answer 7

2 billion