Schools' rugby concussion outrage

I have often been horrified by the lack of care shown by schools and parents when children are injured in school sport, especially in rugby. This, however, goes beyond even the worst that I've seen before.

A 16 year old school boy, playing rugby for his school, was assaulted after the game by two parents. The two adults hit and kicked him in the face and on the head. He suffered severe concussion, was hospitalized and treated with cortisone to prevent brain edema (swelling). A doctor quoted after the incident mentioned the danger of brainstem herniation.

Despite what was clearly a serious concussion, the boy was playing again a week later in the final match of the Beeld Trophy. That was three days after his discharge from hospital.

Read the newspaper reports here and here (the last in Afrikaans).

School boy, Lee-Jay Kotze, playing the rugby final a week after suffering severe concussion.

The parents and coach would have been advised by the neurologist of the dangers of concussion and the consequences that repeated concussions hold for the developing brain. The child wanted to play, but surely the adults should have exercised greater responsibility. Their actions to my mind border on criminal negligence.

Read more on concussion in childhood in Can we manage sport related concussion in children the same as in adults?

An excellent local (South African) resource on concussion in sport is Sports Concussion South South Africa.

School sport in many South African schools is very competitive. Schools' reputations and the future teaching careers of teacher coaches depend on the performance of their teams. This is especially the case in rugby, a national sport and for some almost a religion.

Rich schools buy often buy players with bursaries and other incentives, stripping poorer schools of their players and the opportunity to perform well. They also pay professional coaches and reward teacher coaches with incentives. This is one way in which less wealthy parents can get their children into top schools, but often at high cost to the children. They are removed from their circle of friends and often experience huge pressure to perform from the schools who paid to get them. Their parents, especially fathers, often also put pressure on them, vicariously achieving through their children what they could not when they were at school. The know-all, beer-bellied fathers who heckle referees and constantly admonish their sons, sometimes getting into fights with other parents and even players, are common sights next to South African school boy rugby games.