In the last week professor’s have advised to completely remove tackling and scrums in schools rugby in a leading medical journal.

Allyson Pollock and Graham Kirkwood, from the Institute of Health at Newcastle University claim that the fundamentals of the game have to be removed due injuries being caused to teenager’s and children because of the collision element of rugby.

Their writings in the British medical journal say that rugby’s administrators should “put the interests of the child before those of corporate professional rugby unions”.

They feel if the collision side of the sport is eradicated it is likely to “reduce and mitigate the risk of injury”.

Their argument is that concussions, or a history of concussions leads to somebody’s life chances being lowered in terms of low educational achievement and premature death.

In their research they have cited other studies on sports injuries in younger people and claimed that along with Ice Hockey and American Football, rugby has some of the highest concussion rates.

The report comes in the wake of English Internationals Billy Vunipola, Joe Marler and Ben Youngs threatening to strike if the demands for professional rugby become too much.

International referee Nigel Owens has quickly dismissed the idea of removing scrums and tackling from Schools rugby by tweeting “they will want to ban walking to school next. And only rubber pens and pencils to be used in class. What is the world coming to.”

They will want to ban walking to school next. And only rubber pens and pencils to be used in class. What is the world coming too. https://t.co/CYMmk6WSgt

— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) September 26, 2017

While there is no doubt that World Rugby must strive to make the sport as safe as possible for young and old alike but does Owens have a valid point?