IM in need of a makeover :: Wessex Scene Online

IM in need of a makeover

7th December 2007
Simon Webb

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The Wessex Scene spoke with Rob Cross, the man in charge of intra mural Rugby. He explained the leaps made over the summer in the organisation of the Intra Mural rugby league and encourages other intra mural sport to follow suit.

Over the summer, Cross arranged for each team entering the Intra Mural league to have at least one player qualified as a referee. Rather than ask these players to referee their own team’s games, arrangements were made so that teams could support one another. The changes have seen a notable rise in the standard of games and safety has improved a great deal as referees are more aware of the dangers faced by players. Unfortunately in early November a player was badly injured by illegal studs, aside from that the changes have been positive.

Rugby is one of the only sports with a representative and Cross feels other sports must follow suit. It is widely accepted that Intra Mural sport is not performed to the same standard as the University teams perform to and consequently players are in fact at greater risk of injury due to a lack of understanding with regards to the rules.

As well as the lack of quality officiating, there are concerns regarding appropriate first aid cover. The Athletic Union provides qualified first aiders for Wednesday and Saturday fixtures, all first aiders are paid for their time. However Intra Mural is organised by Sports Rec. The Wessex Scene understands Sports Rec investigated the possibility of employing the same first aiders but the aiders were reluctant to work as they would be taxed. Therefore, Cross proposed to the Wessex Scene that the Sport Rec department simply contract the AU to provide the first aiders, in doing so they will still only hold one job and avoid the extra tax.

There is no doubting that the Intra Mural leagues are a fantastic alternative to University sport and hopefully with a more structured approach all the sports can aspire to the high standards of Intra Mural Rugby.