AS a former rugby player of no great ability I must agree with Duncan Macintyre (Letters, February 16). In bygone days players were taught to tackle around the legs. However at some point the preferred tackle changed to be an upper body manoeuvre most likely greatly encouraged by the Irish use of the "choke" tackle. This had two significant effects, namely that head to head contact becomes highly probable and players were selected on the basis of increased size to resist the resultant arm wrestles. Now massive players are crashing in to each other and the smaller, possibly more skilful, players are consigned to the scrap heap.
One rugby agent recently told of being asked to find a club a physical freak on his scouting trip to the South Sea islands.
At the risk of sounding like an old fogey perhaps it would prevent many injuries, though not all, to restrict tackling to below the waist. This would surely help to return rugby to the status of being a game for all sizes and shapes.
David Stubley,
22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
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