Wednesday 27 September 2017 21:21, UK
Will Greenwood and Allyson Pollock debate tackling in schools rugby, while Mark Lambert weighs in on player welfare.
Pollock was invited onto the show after writing in the British Medical Journal along with Graham Kirkwood from the Institute of Health at Newcastle University that ministers should "put the interests of the child before those of corporate professional rugby unions" by banning tackling in schools rugby.
The pair argued that most injuries in youth rugby occur due to the collision elements of the game. Removing collision from schools rugby is likely to "reduce and mitigate the risk of injury" in pupils, they said.
Former England international Greenwood suggested children could protect themselves better if equipped with good tackling techniques from an early age.
"Could we acknowledge, potentially, the risk of removing tackling at a young age and then suddenly they're being introduced at 17 and 18 when they haven't understood the basics of rugby, and suddenly they weigh 90 to 100 kilos," said Greenwood.
"I'd want them to be taught young, taught correctly technically, and with that the ability to look after themselves by being educated in a manner that puts them in a position that, when they grow up and are of a size where things can happen on that front, they are able to look after themselves."
Pollock countered that there was no data to support Greenwood's theory.
"There's absolutely no evidence for that, but what we do know is that the risks and rates of injury - even in young children - are very high when you introduce the collision," said Pollock.
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Rupert Cox also interviewed Mark Lambert, vice Chairman of the Rugby Players' Association. Lambert spoke out after the announcement of a new global calendar which is to take effect from August 2020 and will see international players playing 11-month seasons.
The Harlequins prop hinted strongly that the players would strike if the season is extended.
"We're not going to rule anything out," said Lambert. "We would hope that there would be a far more sensible resolution to this issue, but of course if we get to that point... you look at American sports and there are things we can learn from American sport.
"Our season is already longer than any other contact sport in the world, and the vast majority of them are considerably shorter than what we have at the moment.
"You see the power of collective bargaining in the NFL and what they've achieved through that, and that's something which many sporting trade unions can aspire to.
"At the same time, I think there's something which is very special about the relationship between rugby and the fans and people that run the game as well.
"Traditionally it's been a tough game but everyone kind of has had each others' back. My concern with these proposals is that we are moving more towards that American style of players being more of a commodity that, yes they may get paid a good amount of money, but they get chewed up by the system and spat out at the end of it.
"I don't think anyone would really want that shift in the relationship between the players and the game."
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