socialmedian: Doctor worried by 'most physical tour'

Add News Flash

User-submitted headlines for this story

Clips

Doctor worried by 'most physical tour'

Source: guardian.co.uk Sport

Jul 05, 2009

Summary

• Lions doctor James Robson says players have become too bulky
• 'Players have got too big for their skill levels'

The Lions team doctor James Robson believes the shape of rugby players will have to start changing after the most physical Test series he has ever experienced.

Robson has been the Lions doctor on five tours but said the levels of intensity and attrition witnessed during the Lions' 2-1 series defeat to South Africa were unprecedented. Five Lions players ended up in hospital after the second Test in Pretoria and Robson fears the balance is wrong between power and skill.

"I would have to say this has been the most physical tour, the most physical Test matches I have been involved in," said Robson. "I think we are reaching a level where the players have got too big for their skill levels. I think they have become a little too muscle-bound and too bulky.

"I think you may see changes in the physical nature of the player that brings them back a little – I hope so – in order to speed up the game and introduce a higher level of skill."

The majority of injuries

...Read the full article

Comments (0)

Add Your Comment