Call to ban rugby tackles in colleges after baby dies enjoying American Football

Calls are growing for kids in the UK to be banned from full-contact rugby tackles after a 16-year-old died playing American football.

Caden Tellier, a junior at Alabama’s Morgan Academy in the US, suffered a brain injury while attempting a tackle. The tragedy prompted fresh calls from the worlds of sport and politics for a rethink of rules governing youngsters playing collision sports.

Alix Popham, who played Rugby for Wales in two World Cups, said children should focus on learning the skills of the sport rather than risking their health in full-contact practices. He said: “The tragic death of Caden Tellier is reminder that collision sports risk the lives of young athletes.”

Alix earned 33 caps before hanging up his boots in 2008. He was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 2020, at the age of 40. CTE is a progressive brain condition that is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion.

He is one of hundreds of former Rugby League and Union players pursuing their governing bodies for compensation. Law firm Rylands Garth is representing around 700 claimants or potential claimants who have suffered injuries playing the game. Former Wales stars Ryan Jones, Gavin Henson and Lenny Woodard have lodged claims.

Alix, 44, added: “Rugby needs to learn from this case and make sure that younger teens of around 14 to16 focus on learning the skills of the sport rather than risk head traumas through full contact. Authorities must not keep risking lives by resisting significant reforms.”

Tory MP Caroline Dinenage, who chaired the Culture, Media and Sport committee until the election, backed his call. She said: “Caden Tellier’s passing is sad. The risks in the NFL and rugby are incredibly similar. We need to protect sporting teens as much as possible while letting them learn their skills. Full contact is not necessary in this early stage of their development.”

Rylands Garth lawyer Richard Boardman added: “We’ve had contact from the parents of players as young as 10 concerned about the concussions their children have suffered.”

A spokeswoman from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said: “It is terrible to hear about this tragic incident in the US, and our thoughts go out to those affected. While it is up to individual governing bodies to determine the level of contact within their sports, we want to ensure everyone can participate in sport safely at all levels.

“The first UK national guidance for concussion in grassroots sport was introduced in 2023, which aims to better identify, manage and prevent the issue. The effectiveness of this guidance will be evaluated over the next year.”