BRAINTREE’S MP has spoken out over calls to ban rugby tackles from school matches.

James Cleverly said more than 70 doctors and academics were wrong to issue a warning in an open letter and said the game teaches children about risk.

The letter, which was addressed to ministers, chief medical officers and children’s commissioners, said rugby is a “high-impact collision sport”.

It said injuries, including fractures, ligament tears, dislocated shoulders, spinal injuries and head injuries, can have “short-term, life-long and life-ending consequences for children”.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Mr Cleverly said children could be put in greater danger if they do not learn how to handle risk until later in life.

He said: "We cannot eradicate risk from young people's lives and even if we could, we shouldn't.”

Mr Cleverly said as a “lifelong” rugby player and coach he shared their concerns but because the game is a contact sport it has a degree of risk.

He said: “Young people need to learn about risk, assessing risk, mitigating risk and understanding that risk cannot be avoided. Rugby is a fantastic vehicle for this.

"If we deny young people the chances to manage risk in their lives they will enter adulthood unprepared for the inevitable challenges of life.

"The modest number of injuries that are sustained playing school rugby will not be eradicated if tackling is banned they will simply be postponed until those kids become young adults.”

"There are already too many examples of high risk behaviours in young adults, I am sure that many are linked to the lid of adult 'protection' being lifted.

"If, as children, these young adults didn't deal with personal risk is it any surprise that they are clueless about doing so in adulthood?”

He added: "We can't wrap children up in cotton wool and even if we could we would be doing them a massive disservice if we did."