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'Tell your kids there is a good chance of injuries' Jacques Burger responds to sharing brutal schoolboy tackle
By Online Editors
The sharing of an eye-watering hit from a South African schoolboy match by former Saracens backrow Jacques Burger ignited a heated debate around concussion and player welfare on Twitter.
The Namibian international Burger tweeted a video of a brutal tackle from a Monument Boys versus Paarl Boys match in South Africa that was described as 'sickening' and 'not ok at all' by viewers.
Sam Peters, the UK journalist and concussion awareness advocate also took issue with the video, questioning if rugby as a sport should be taking pleasure in such incidents:
“Huge question for rugby and @Nabasboer do we celebrate seeing a child smashed head first into rock hard ground or search for ways to avoid? For what it’s worth, watching this makes me physically sick.”
Burger has responded to the criticism with some direct advice for parents whose children play rugby: "Tell your kids there is a good chance of injuries if they play rugby."
He explained "that's the reality" but implored those to work on their techniques in the interests of safety.
"Work on better/safer techniques so they can be smarter, well-prepared rugby players. Also, don't forget to tell them to do their best and enjoy," he wrote.
The criticism continued to flow towards Burger after the statement with one commentator asking for an apology.
"Just apologise for promoting a clearly illegal tackle as good?"
"How can a better technique stop someone flying in chest height off their feet knocking you out? I get what you are saying but you can't prepare for that type of ‘tackle’" another wrote with reference to original tackle.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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