[Stymie]

When I played rugby 40 years ago at a realtively high level (for the USA, at least), it was far less dangerous than football due to the fact that high speed/high impact collisions were rare as the game was largely played at speed on angles and at strength within distnaces that did not allow for speed.  I suspect that 100 years ago (when Stanford played rugby rather than football) this was more of the case.  These days, rugby is just as dangerous as football, as the players are bigger and faster and the tactics demand more contact at speed and more wrestling at strength.  I have several friends and relatives whose children play high level junior rugby, and they are all fearful as to what might happen to their sons.

[Stymie]

When I played rugby 40 years ago at a realtively high level (for the USA, at least), it was far less dangerous than football due to the fact that high speed/high impact collisions were rare as the game was largely played at speed on angles and at strength within distnaces that did not allow for speed.  I suspect that 100 years ago (when Stanford played rugby rather than football) this was more of the case.  These days, rugby is just as dangerous as football, as the players are bigger and faster and the tactics demand more contact at speed and more wrestling at strength.  I have several friends and relatives whose children play high level junior rugby, and they are all fearful as to what might happen to their sons.