While Chicago may not be seen as a rugby capital, there are numerous professional and semi-professional teams that play in the Windy City, including the Chicago Lions, Chicago Hounds, and the Chicago Rugby Club, in addition to the eight college teams that make up the Chicago Area Rugby Football Union.
Needless to say, many Chicagoans enjoy this rough-and-ready sport, but they may not be aware of one of the most terrifying results of a full-contact sport: paralysis. Even one hard hit can paralyze someone, such as what happened to Dani Czernusza in the United Kingdom, who was paralyzed for life after her opponent said she was “going to break her” and crouched down directly on her spine.
The serious risks associated with full-contact sports is why it’s critical that every rugby player familiarize themselves with paralysis risks, prevention, and life after a catastrophic injury. Even if you believe it could never happen to you, knowledge is power, and your immediate reactions after a serious injury can mean the difference between recovery and total paralysis.
Causes of Paralysis While Playing Rugby
One of the largest risks to ruggers while playing is the other players on the field, who may perform unsafe tackles that seriously incapacitate the victim. In a small study from South Africa, researchers found that 20% of those studied were injured due to a high tackle around the neck, which is illegal due to the severe risk of injury. Of those 20% injured by a high tackle, half of them were left completely paralyzed, which just underscores the major dangers of this particular move.
Others may be injured due to the fast-paced, chaotic nature of rugby. For example, an 18-year-old rugger named Ben was paralyzed after a member of the opposing team tripped and fell onto his neck during a match, leaving him quadriplegic. It took only this one accident to cause him to lose total sensation below the neck.
Another concern is that thanks to its serious strain on the body, rugby can cause deteriorative disease of the spine, which can lead to paralysis over time.
Preventing Paralysis in Rugby
While it’s impossible to prevent all potential paralysis risks associated with rugby, thanks to the nature of the sport, rugby unions and clubs across the world are working to reduce the incidence of this tragic outcome through better regulation, training, and intervention. Many incredibly dangerous moves, such as the high tackle, are now banned, and younger rugby players aren’t even taught how to perform these maneuvers in case they use them during a high-stakes match.
Another way that sport officials – and individual rugby players – are preventing total paralysis is through fast intervention, which can reduce the long-term effects of a hard tackle.
If you’ve been seriously injured on the field, it’s essential that you stay still and wait for a coach or trainer to assess you; they’ve been trained on what to look for and will know how to move you safely to an ambulance so as to prevent any further damage to the spine. Nearly every sporting event taking place in Chicago, including rugby games, is required to have an ambulance on hand in case of injury, ensuring prompt reaction that can massively improve a paralysis victim’s odds of recovery.
Life After Paralysis
If the unthinkable happens, it’s always possible to heal, even if you can’t make a full recovery. One of the first steps to take, after being properly assessed by medical professionals, is to speak to a Chicago paralysis attorney who can inform you of your legal options for compensation. There are a variety of individuals who may be held to task for your paralysis, including the individual player, coaches, the rugby club, and any doctors or trainers who didn’t provide appropriate treatment.
Paralysis doesn’t mean that your Chicago rugby career is over, though you may have to take time to prepare yourself before returning to the pitch. The same advice applies as it does to other returning players, including training for general physical preparedness, but you’ll need to work closely with a trainer familiar with paralysis in order to do your best.
You may wonder how you can possibly play rugby in Chicago in a wheelchair, but don’t fret – there is a team of highly motivated disabled ruggers just like you, passionate about the sport and ready to go! Chicago is home to the Chicago Bears Wheelchair Rugby Team, a D3 wheelchair rugby team that travels competitively, spreading awareness about paralyzed athletes in the process. Don’t forget that the Paralympics has a wheelchair rugby division for quadriplegics, meaning that even the international stage isn’t off-limits for you.
No one wants to be injured while playing the game that they love, but sadly, it does happen, often due to unsportsmanlike conduct or accidents. However, there are ways to prevent this tragedy – and should it happen, ways to receive justice and get back on the pitch.
