‘It wasn't an accident’: The psychological trauma of non-consensual rugby injuries sustained in physical education

Background

The last few decades have seen increased alarm concerning the dangers of childhood rugby participation, mostly in relation to the well-known problems associated with brain trauma in the sport. There has, however, been little investigation concerning the psychological impact of injuries sustained during compulsory participation in rugby within British schools physical education (PE).

Objective

This research sought to explore experiences of rugby-induced injury as a result of compelled participation in schools PE.

Methods

Qualitative, in-depth interviews with 12 young adults aged 19 to 24 (ten men and two women) who were injured playing schools rugby in PE. All interviewees attest to having not wanting to participate in rugby, and therefore we define the injuries sustained as non-consensual. Interviews explored the cause, nature, and enduring psychological trauma related to these injury events.

Findings

The compulsory, and therefore non-consensual character of the rugby-induced injuries experienced by our participants compounded the harm beyond physical trauma. They reported that the mandatory participation in contact rugby within their school PE classes undermined their ability to cognitively frame their injuries as accidents. These injuries were more appropriately perceived as violations of their bodily autonomy. This perception led to enduring embitterment, as participants resented being forced into the sport. As adults, they have developed a deeper understanding of informed consent, further intensifying psychological impacts and anger towards those they deemed responsible for their injuries.

Conclusions

Findings add to the growing safeguarding concerns over the existence of contact rugby in the British PE curriculum and children's rights, within both educational and sport settings. Two relevant policy changes to protect children are strongly advocated; 1) a greater focus on processes of consent within PE, and 2) the removal of contact rugby from the curriculum on safeguarding grounds.