Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Someone will get seriously hurt': All Blacks legend's dire warning for rugby

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Iconic former All Blacks captain Ian Kirkpatrick has a simple warning for World Rugby bosses – change the rules now or risk serious injury to leading players.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kirkpatrick, 74, played 39 tests and 74 matches as loose forward for the All Blacks between 1967 and 1977, and captained the team between 1972 and 1974.

Speaking on Sky Sport’s The Pod on Thursday, Kirkpatrick warned that rugby has become too dangerous – especially around the breakdowns.

Video Spacer

Super Rugby Aotearoa

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Super Rugby Aotearoa

      “With the physicality of it now I worry about the welfare of the players… and I don’t know if they deep down enjoy it.

      “They’re playing obviously because they’re getting well paid but I worry about their welfare later on as well. They have a lot of living to do after rugby. I just hope we don’t get too many players who are going to suffer because of it.”

      Kirkpatrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 and was last month named New Zealand Rugby’s patron after the death of Sir Brian Lochore in 2019.

      “At the start of professional rugby we always had at least four or five forwards in at the breakdown so we had more space further out,” Kirkpatrick said.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “I know they’ve always had the cleanout but I think the cleanout has got ridiculous. It’s become dangerous, the players that are defending can’t see them coming and someone’s going to get seriously hurt – just ask (Brodie) Retallick about that in the game against the Springboks in Wellington last year.”

      Retallick dislocated his shoulder following what appeared to be an illegal ruck cleanout against the Boks in July last year, an injury that cast serious doubts on his participation in the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

      In 2018 All Blacks teammate Sam Cane was sidelined for several months after fracturing his neck after a collision at the breakdown in a test against the South Africans in Pretoria.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVGmIcAkTU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      Forcing more players to the breakdown would not only make the game much safer – but improve it as a spectacle, Kirkpatrick believes.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      His plea comes as NZR implement new rule changes for Super Rugby Aotearoa, starting with the clash between the Highlanders and Chiefs in Dunedin tonight.

      NZR earlier confirmed that existing laws at the breakdown would be applied more strictly to create faster attacking ball and a fairer contest – with ball carriers allowed only one dynamic movement after being tackled, tacklers expected to roll away immediately in the direction of the sideline and an “extra focus” on the offside line.

      “If we can get back to making a few subtle changes to the rules where we can force guys to come into the breakdown, maybe have a bit more rucking and create that space further out cause there’s no way we can make the grounds any bigger and that’s the only way now to create more space,” Kirkpatrick said.

      “That’s what the players will like and the fans will certainly grasp it as well. That’s my big concern about where the game is going and I just hope World Rugby in their wisdom can see that and somehow address it.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      LIVE

      Waratahs vs Reds

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

      Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

      Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      K
      Katy Martin 5 hours ago
      WRU reveal how much they paid for Cardiff Rugby

      As a truck driver who spends long hours on the road, I understand the value of hard work. My job demands long shifts, constant focus, and time away from loved ones. To make extra income during my limited downtime, I started mining cryptocurrency. After months of dedication, I finally saved enough to buy BITCOIN through P2P on Binance. It felt like a major milestone. I was proud of what I had built, turning my effort into BITCOIN, an asset I believed in. That pride quickly turned into heartbreak. Someone I trusted scammed me out of $85,000 worth of BITCOIN in a single transaction. I was crushed. I had sacrificed sleep, missed out on time with friends and family, and worked relentlessly, only to have everything taken from me in seconds. The emotional and financial blow was devastating. Still, I was not ready to give up. I started researching ways to recover stolen BITCOIN and came across TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. I saw countless testimonials from people who had lost cryptocurrency and managed to recover it with their help. Desperate but hopeful, I reached out and shared my story. To my complete shock, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY managed to trace and recover my stolen BITCOIN within just 21 hours. The funds were safely returned to my wallet. I cannot describe the relief I felt. Months of hard work were not wasted after all. My belief in BITCOIN as a store of value had been shaken, but thanks to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY, I got a second chance. Even more incredible, their team helped law enforcement track down the scammer responsible. That person was arrested, and justice was served. I could finally breathe again, knowing that the person who took advantage of my trust was held accountable. If you have lost BITCOIN or other crypto to a scam, whether through fake investments, phishing schemes, or fraudulent platforms, do not lose hope. TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY specializes in recovering stolen BITCOIN and other digital assets, even from apps like Binance, Cash App, or Coinbase. Their team is fast, trustworthy, and truly committed to helping victims like me. Losing BITCOIN you worked hard for is painful, but recovery is possible. Reach out to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY today and take back control of your financial future. CONSUL THEM wa.me/15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING 'I could see how much it meant to my dad, me playing for Wales, rather than England' 'I could see how much it meant to my dad, me playing for Wales'
      Search