Trouble ahead, warns O’Connell

Munster’s Paul O’Connell has warned that an increased emphasis on building muscle mass in professional sport will lead to more serious injuries on the pitch and, in some cases, court prosecutions.

O’Connell was addressing a UL seminar on Violence and Aggression in Sport. The Munster, Ireland and Lions player said while he did not believe there is a problem at present, he could foresee problems down the road.

“The conditioning and weight training being undertaken by professional rugby players now may lead to situations that even while playing within the rules of the game, players can be injured more easily,” he said.