Four serious injuries prompt major Rugby Australia review

Rugby Australia will undertake a wide ranging review of player safety after four boys recently suffered serious injuries.

Some former players believe education is the key, while others are urging the sporting community not to overreact.

Alex Clark remains in hospital in Brisbane, facing the reality that he may never walk again.

The 15-year-old was injured during a school match on Brisbane’s north side – accidently hit by another player as a try was scored.

He has a serious spinal injury and has undergone surgery to his neck.

In another hospital in Brisbane, 16-year-old prop Conor Tweedy is also recovering from injury.

He dislocated his C4 and C5 vertebrae after a scrum collapsed during a match.

Two more boys from Toowoomba Grammar School are on the mend after suffering injuries to their spinal cord.

The injuries have rocked Queensland Rugby, prompting an urgent safety review.

“It has been unprecedented, we’ve not had four in such a space of time,” said former rugby union player Tim Horan of the recent injuries.

“I think going forward you got to keep trying to educate coaches, educate players on the safety aspect of the game.”

But former Wallabies coach John “knuckles” Connolly is urging Rugby Australia not to overreact.

“There are hundreds of scrums and hundreds of games every weekend where we don’t have incident.”

In the past 12 months, Rugby Australia has introduced significant changes to the sport, including weight divisions instead of the traditional age competitions.