JUst you, no offence but it wouldnt be rugby league with big helmets on? The sport is good enough as it is

I know where you're coming from but I doubt that things will change.

It's a game played by (mostly)young men in a testosterone fuelled atmosphere; it is, in the forwards particularly, a game where showing who is the 'hardest' is important to the players, and it is the players themselves who make it like that, and let's be honest, enjoy it like that.

It IS different for parents, I agree. We're back to the old parental thinking where it was alright for me to do that when I was a kid - but you're frightened to death when you see your son doing it. This is the same whether your kid is climbing a tree or cliff or playing a physical collision sport like RL. What I'm not so sure about is how you take the danger out without totally changing the game, to be honest. Truth is I don't really think you can.

Glad to here she is doing ok matey . Terrible experience to have your child in a place like that ain't it , and such a relief when you know they are gonna be ok . Carl went for a new pot on again yesterday . They have to change the pot so they can change the dressings on the open wounds inside it . He is getting rather good at hopping , and they say he may have his pot off for good in three weeks . He will still need to use a chair to join us on the www.charitygiving.co.uk/james2odsal walk as we go through Leeds though. Ooooops . Another shameless plug Best of luck to you and yours Darren , and it was nice meeting you . Rick

Glad to here she is doing ok matey . Terrible experience to have your child in a place like that ain't it , and such a relief when you know they are gonna be ok . Carl went for a new pot on again yesterday . They have to change the pot so they can change the dressings on the open wounds inside it . He is getting rather good at hopping , and they say he may have his pot off for good in three weeks . He will still need to use a chair to join us on the www.charitygiving.co.uk/james2odsal walk as we go through Leeds though. Ooooops . Another shameless plug Best of luck to you and yours Darren , and it was nice meeting you . Rick

As the mother of three Rugby playing lads (now all too old to play) who has spent many hundreds of hours cringeing on the touchline watching them get smashed - and many hours in A&E watching them get patched up - it is always really, really difficult. But I always consoled myself with one thought; when they went out at night into town I never had to worry that they'd get beaten up or start fights or get picked on - and I know the stats show 16-25 year old boys are in the greatest peril in town centres at night. My chaps got all their aggression out on the field and just had a quietly confident air about them when they were out that meant they never got targeted. Contact sports are gruelling for parents to watch - but not as lethal as motorbikes!