While John Smit supports reasonable initiatives to reduce the risk of serious injury in rugby, the iconic Springbok centurion says sport will never be 100% safe.
“Look, I am glad that the research is being done,” Smit said on a Vodacom United Rugby Championship media call. “We need to be aware of as many facts as possible when it comes to the health and safety of the players. We have looked at game time and introduced limiting the number of games per year.”
“I have picked up more injuries on a bicycle than I did on a rugby field.”
“But, at the end of the day, I think everyone, from the moment they pick up a rugby ball, understands that it’s a contact sport. Nobody ever asked me to run into three guys on a pillar on purpose, I did that naturally out of my own free will.
“You understand the nature and risk of a contact sport from the day that you pick up that ball. As a parent, I watch my boy and you always worry and hope he comes out of every tackle and scrum OK.
“It doesn’t matter how many studies you do, or facts you get, I don’t think that a contact sport can be 100% safe. There’s always that element of risk and I have never met anybody who was forced to play the game.
“My body is falling to pieces. My shoulders and knees are a mess. I can only turn so far because of my fused neck,” added Smit. “But if you gave me that choice to go back 20 years or 30 years, I would still pick that ball up and carry on playing.
“I have picked up more injuries on a bicycle than I did on a rugby field.”
Smit’s view was backed up former Scottish international John Barclay: “Of course, the research is a good thing, as long as they use it in the right way. If it’s used to help the awareness and change behaviours or protocols, then great, but not if it’s just released to scare the s**t out of people.
“You also have a chance of getting hit by a car every day. You can’t live life in fear. You must make an educated decision over whether you want to play the game or not.
“The unacceptable things are a different conversation. People returning to play with concussions, it’s just a non-negotiable. The key part is making the game as safe as it can be. It’s never going to be a totally safe game. Cycling isn’t a safe sport.”
World Rugby is facing legal action taken against the governing body by former players over an alleged failure to protect them from the risks of early onset dementia during their playing careers.
“World Rugby has done a huge amount to negate the possible risks of a high-contact sport. You look at all the tests that are done, pre-season and post-season, there is a lot of precaution that is put in place,” added Smit.
READ: World Rugby fires back over concussion lawsuit
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
