It is a fact that we all need to accept that the more the pace of any game the more the risk it has in it. Especially professional rugby is offering a terrible threat both verbal and mentally to all the players. With shortening their careers and at times leaving a lifelong legacy of disability and much more. This way the entire soul of this sport is under a big threat and the head of the French players union has warned about it. Now the player welfare has been under a scrutiny after it was revealed that former All Black Dan Carter played the French Top 14 final for Racing Metro after receiving an injection of corticoids which is a legal steroid to treat inflammation. Carter even said that he took the injections after a knee issue in the semi-final. He was cleared of any wrong doing by the French federation how Montpellier lock Robins Tchale Watchou, the president of the French players’ union, believes this would always give a bad example.
Tchale Watchou said to Reuters that: “If today, taking corticoids, albeit legally, triggers so many questions, it means there is a problem. Refusing to talk about it would be a massive strategic mistake. Do we need it? Can we continue like this?” “He took something legally but is it necessary? That’s where the debate lies.”
Tchale Watchou further said.
“Rugby used to prepare men, it now makes machines,” “Players are being used like scrap. The human side of the sport was key, it was at the center of everything. If we lose that, what’s the point?”
Tchale Watchou, 33, is trying to educate younger players about the dangers of pushing your body too hard.
He says,
“What I tell the youngsters: ‘I am almost sure that you won’t be able to play as long as me. I am almost sure that I will be a broken old man but for you it will be worse. By 30 you’ll have gone under the knife three or four times. What state will you be in?
“We’ve seen some kids smashing it until they make it to the national team and then disappear suddenly. Take Racing Metro’s Teddy Thomas, he’s so gifted, but he’s always injured and we have not seen him for two years.
“He’ll end up being injured for seven years of a 10-year career. The sport has become prejudicial to health.”
