Johnny Sexton Blasts Call To Ban Tackling In Underage Rugby

An open letter to the British government signed by 70 doctors, urged schools to adopt only non-contact forms of the game for under 18s.

Speaking about the news on Today FM’s Anton Savage Show this morning, Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton rubbished the proposal.

“I don’t think you can play rugby without tackling, then it’s not going to be rugby.”

Sexton also spoke about his own problems and his frustration with being labelled concussion prone and reiterated that player welfare always comes first:

“Look, I think the only thing I can say about it is that the IRFU, who look after us unbelievably well, they are taking every measure to make sure that player welfare is top of the list and they’re doing everything they can.

“And they’re actually leading the way internationally with looking after players with concussion. That’s why it was so frustrating for me, people suggesting that I was playing through concussion or people were hiding a concussion; it was more offensive to the doctors and to the IRFU than it was to me.”