Rugby: Head impact study shows cognitive decline after just one season
I played rugby in high school, and I was surprised at how much you don't hit your head intentionally like you do in American football. You use your shoulders, torso, and arms, or at least that is how we were trained. Sure, you hit your head occasionally, but sometimes in a maul you find yourself clasping your hands behind your head in a maul to guard the ball against the opposition, while your team tries to hook the ball out of your stomach side, while you are laying down in a fetal position on the pitch!<p>I still think American football players maximize power off the line, feel protected by helmets and shoulder pads, and basically create a more powerful jolt when they hit heads instead of shoulder pads. When you're not wearing a helmet, you tend to become better at protecting your head against intentional hits.<p>Then again Garryownens can result in being hit like a freight train if you decide to catch it!