Jacques Burger: Rugby’s brutal so don’t play if you can’t take the pain

Jacques Burger, arguably Premiership Rugby's toughest tackler, admits to being concerned over the long-term effects of professional rugby's relentless brutality.
But the ferocious Saracens flanker has issued a defiant message to those who claim the game is getting too dangerous, saying: “Don't play rugby if you're afraid of being injured or concussed because that possibility exists in every contact you make.”
Recent statistics from the Rugby Players' Association show that Premiership injury retirements rose sharply from 13 in season 2010-11 to 22 last year, with that figure set to be exceeded during the current campaign with 19 having already called it a day.
On the flip side, however, the RFU's latest Injury Audit for 2012-13, released last month, shows a decline in the number of top-flight match injuries, which peaked at 769 during 2008-9 but fell to 588 in 2012-13, an average of 1.5 per match.
Concussion is high on the agenda of world rugby's governing bodies but Burger, 30, is convinced authorities and clubs are doing everything in their power to minimise the effects.
“We're seeing the first generation of truly professional rugby players, so guys are going to get stronger, fitter and faster,” the Namibian told The Rugby Paper.
“The game is getting more physical, but at the end of the day it's a collision sport where guys are running into each other as hard as they can.
“It's a dangerous, brutal sport and you've got to be realistic that guys are going to get injured, and there's not much you can do about it.
“How can you change the game to lessen the impacts? Teams want to win, we want to be better than the others and physical aggression is part of it.
“It is worrying at times, but there are rules in place to protect players and clubs are doing their absolute best to keep guys in great shape.
“The people organising rugby are trying to make it as safe as possible and effort is now being made to look after players when they get injured or semi-concussed, whereas back in the day people would just continue playing.
“It's a tough one and in 20 years it will be interesting to see the toll the game's taken after this first generation of players has retired.
“But as players you should know the risks. It's one of the most brutal sports out there so if you're not willing to be injured, don't take part.”
Burger's battered face and constantly bandaged knee are testament to his warrior spirit, but he has no intention of easing back. He adds: “I don't worry about the physicality, it just comes natural to me and it's the way I play. It's like being a soldier on the front line, you do the hard work and that's your job.
“Saracens don't keep me around for my banter, they keep me to hit people hard.”
NEALE HARVEY