‘If rugby was a drug it would be banned’, says health expert

If rugby was a drug it would be banned because of the amount of harm involved, according to a leading expert in public health research.

Allyson Pollock, professor of public health research and policy at Queen Mary University in London, said allowing World Rugby to remain in charge of schools’ rugby was “like letting McDonald’s be in charge of the school canteen”.

Prof Pollock said World Rugby, headquartered in Dublin, is a “multibillion-pound business” run by men who are “only really interested in the professional game”. Yet, the same rules are implemented at school level.