Stephen Jones is to be congratulated for bringing to our attention the injury problem facing rugby union (last week). It is inevitable that a player will be killed on the field, injury levels will become epidemic and long-term, chronic injury will become the norm. The huge collisions are due not only to the greater mass and speed of players, but in the laws that dictate the mode of play. A solution might be to reduce the number of players to 13-a-side.
A Lloyd-Edwards, via email
With the increasing size and weight of players, there should be a cap on the number of games individuals can play (say just 20) each season. Rest and recuperation are critical.
David Rimmer, via email
Modern players bulk up and turn themselves into human battering rams which do enormous long- and short-term damage. Would you be happy for your son or grandson to become a modern professional player? I wouldn’t.The solution is to impose a limit on weight.
Andrew Morgan
Two huge men felling the ball carrier is the standard repetitive procedure in rugby and commentators do not talk of tackles but acclaim ‘big hits’. Shall we ever see the likes of Barry John again and could he exist in today’s game?
Jem Cook, Marlborough
Stephen Jones is spot on when he advocates the return of old-style rucks. Any player who had transgressed on the floor in the 1970s would only do it once. If proper rucking was restored the game would speed up and be more entertaining.
Stuart Yeandle, Swansea
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It is noticeable that many Lions suffer a drop in form after a tour, with fatigue a likely cause. Lighten the load by having no autumn internationals, or no Lions tours, or cancel autumn internationals during years when there are Lions tours.
Michael Norris, Lower Porthpean, Cornwall
Stephen Jones made no mention of the fact that after 60 minutes, when players are becoming tired, a raft of ‘impact’ players, who are totally fresh, come on. One way to lessen the dangers of injury is to return to a bench of four or five replacements who have to be utility players, brought on only as injury replacements.
Fraser Marshall, East Sussex
Ben Stokes has every right to earn his living and will be free to do so in the IPL; he could play county cricket or go back to New Zealand and play for Canterbury. What should not be allowed is for somebody facing a criminal charge to represent our country. What if he is found guilty? His selection by a weak and enfeebled ECB sends out entirely the wrong message to cricket lovers young and old.
Susan Murray
It is time that David Walsh stopped stalking Chris Froome and Team Sky. By all means give us the facts occasionally, but not in almost every article. He spent three months with the team, was given a free rein and found nothing. His witch-hunt of Froome is over the top.
Kathy Carmichael, via email
To prevent the long delays in reviewing VAR, the viewing of any incident should be restricted to two viewings from two different cameras at real speed. If no decision can be made from two views then we should quickly revert to the official(s) on the field.
Alan Booth, via email
The farce of referees using spray-foam to mark out 10 yards at free kicks could be discontinued very easily. The referee could indicate to the players in the dressing room, before the game starts, precisely what 10 yards looks like — ‘from here to that wall, boys’. He could tell them that anyone who encroaches into the 10 yards will be booked. The second offender would be sent off.
Allan Pilling, Wigan