Biden Claims Rugby Is Safer Than Football. Statistics Say Otherwise

US President, Joe Biden, claimed that rugby was a safer game compared to American football. Speaking before Ireland’s Parliament, Biden stated that he would rather his child played rugby rather than football because the former was less likely to result in head injuries. However, statistics have shown that rugby players are at higher risk of getting concussions during the game compared to football players.

In 2018, Complete Concussion Management conducted research which found that men’s rugby had the highest concussion rate across all sports for men aged 18 and above. American football came second in the list. According to the research, rugby players experienced three concussions per 1,000 players per game, while American football players experienced 2.5 concussions. For players under the age of 18, the concussion rate was much higher for rugby compared to football, with rugby having a higher rate of injury.

Another study conducted in 2016 by doctors at Ohio State University found that rugby had more injuries compared to football among college players. The study revealed that rugby resulted in 15.2 injuries per 1,000 players per game, while football had 4.9 injuries per 1,000 players per game.

Biden, who once played rugby, said he would recommend the game to his children for health reasons. However, with statistics showing that rugby players are at higher risk of head injuries compared to American football players, it’s questionable how accurate his statement is.