Rugby World Cup: How rugby is destroying bodies

Finn Russell of Scotland leaves the field injured during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and USA. Photo / Getty Images.

After a huge increase in player withdrawals at the World Cup, a leading sports surgeon has warned big hits from big players are making rugby too dangerous.

With the 40 pool matches completed, 21 players have already withdrawn through injury, nearly double the amount sidelined at the same stage of the 2011 tournament.

Professor John Fairclough, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon who has a 30-year association with the Welsh Rugby Union, believes action needs to be taken to stop the rise of injuries.

"When you have injury rates of that nature then somebody needs to be brought to investigate," Fairclough told the London Daily Telegraph.

"It needs to be led by people without vested interests in rugby union, but looking at it purely from a point of view of personal injury."

Since the first tournament in 1987, the size of players has increased - forwards by 8.9kg (20lb) and backs by 8.5kg (18lb) - which has in turn led to an increase in players getting injured.

While players are getting bigger, their joints are not getting stronger, according to Fairclough.

"The physics of it are fairly simple," he added.

"A heavy weight travelling at speed versus another heavy weight travelling at speed will create an impact collision force that is very high. Players have got bigger but joints have not got stronger.

"The body is not built to withstand those types of collisions so you will have more injuries."

WORLD CUP WITHDRAWALS

2007 World Cup
All teams - 25
Home nations - 2
Quarter finalists - 12

2011 World Cup
All teams - 16
Home nations - 2
Quarter finalists - 10

2015 World Cup
All teams - 34
Home Nations - 13
Quarter finalists - 17

Players withdrawn due to injury from 2015 World Cup:

New Zealand
Tony Woodcock (hamstring)

Wales
Cory Allen (hamstring)
Scott Williams (knee)
Hallam Amos (shoulder)

Italy
Andrea Masi (Achilles)
Martin Castrogiovanni (knee tumour)
Michele Rizzo (knee)
Gonzalo Garcia (knee)

Ireland
Paul O'Connell (hamstring)
Peter O'Mahony (knee)
Jared Payne (foot)

Canada
Connor Braid (jaw)
Liam Underwood (knee)

Australia
Will Skelton (pectoral muscle)
Wycliff Palu (hamstring)

Fiji
Isei Colati (knee)
Waisea Nayacalevu (knee)

England
Billy Vunipola (knee)

France
Yoann Huget (knee)

Scotland
Grant Gilchrist (groin)

South Africa
Jean de Villiers (jaw)