Health experts have called for the banning of rugby in schools, arguing that it 'counters existing child abuse laws' to allow young pupils to play.
Four academics at the universities of Winchester, Nottingham Trent and Bournemouth claim medical evidence suggests children under the age of 18 should not play the sport.
The paper, written by Eric Anderson, Jack Hardwicke, Keith Parry and Garry Turner (who himself holds 13 world titles in combat sports) says neither children nor their parents can give informed consent about playing rugby.
The paper argues that parents don't understand the long-term effects of the injuries as no knock to the head is 'benign'.