It was with some skepticism that Thomas Bournac, captain of Courbevoie in Fédérale 2 (4th division), took note of the positive results of the study on the new tackling rules tested in amateur rugby for five months. After the dramas and concussions in series, the French Federation lowered the tackle line to the size and prohibited the tackling of two from Federal 2 to the 4 th series.
Measures subject to interpretation on the ground and which creates confusion according to Thomas Bournac. Last June, in the final of the French Federal Championship 3, the 28-year-old center suffered the same injury that cost the hope of the Stade Français, Nicolas Chauvin. Victim of a fracture of the second cervical vertebra, he returned to the field in January after six months of rehabilitation.
How do you feel as a player about the new tackling rules?
THOMAS BOURNAC. Our feeling is that we are distorting our sport. It's like saying to a boxer that he no longer has the right to uppercuts because it hurts opponents too much. A boxer is aware of the risks he is taking. We are the same. We engage in a combat sport and we are told that we no longer have the right to fight.
How does it work with the referees?
We put in place rules subject to a level of interpretation that is almost inapplicable by the arbitrators. Suddenly, create additional tension and add pressure to the referees. The application depends on their sensitivity. Some enforce the rules rigorously, others take more leeway. Sometimes they tell us: I take a little freedom, the goal is that you play and that the players are not in danger .
How did you adapt to these new rules?
Putting it down is pretty healthy. There is nothing wrong with this. On the other hand, that does not make sense on the tackles simultaneous to two. It is unmanageable. It is better not to think about it and be penalized from time to time than to try to think and put yourself in delicate situations. These are the instructions that we give ourselves between players. We are asked to appreciate situations at real speed that are almost impossible.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Have you seen an evolution in the game, as the study shows?
Arbitration largely favors the attack. The team with the ball keeps it longer because it is difficult to defend and that every other time, we take a penalty. There is more play after contact. It's pretty positive, even if you don't feel like a revolution. Did we need to create these rules to get there? I'm not sure.
The investigation indicates that the number of injuries has decreased. Have you noticed?
I'm not sure there is a direct impact. We got injured like every year. They made a decision in response to the deaths of young people. This does not mean that we have properly targeted the problem. One has the impression that one puts a patch on a well ripped tire. It's very French, we took a nice half measure and created a disorganization that we are trying to organize. It's a happy mess.
Do you think this is applicable to pros?
Not at all. Again, tackling lower is good, we've been going in the right direction for a few years. But the two-man tackle…
However, you experienced the same injury as Nicolas Chauvin…
Yes, but it is not on a double tackle, like him, and I was "lucky" not to have a displacement of the vertebra. The person was taller than me and fell back on my neck. It is very unfortunate what happened to him, but we made a case of a generality. There are accidents. I almost missed the trap too, and it may be easy to speak today because I find myself on the safe side, but when you play rugby, you know the risks.
You weren't apprehensive when you started?
No. From the moment the surgeon gives the green light, there is not too much subject. We know it's a dangerous sport. That is why there are insurance policies in place. It is the charm of this sport. Unfortunately…
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/S7UVDTX7DREC7DXVCZN6MEKGBY.jpg)
