Rugby is regarded as an incredibly dangerous sport. It is has left 120 players in Great Britain paralyzed, and its injury rates are three times higher than those of soccer.

Yet, season after season, millions of cleat-clad players stand ready to take part in this high-contact game. Spectators are left wondering why so many are willing to pay the steep costs that rugby can entail.

Concussions are one of these costs. According to the Center for Disease Control, concussions can result in “difficulty thinking clearly, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, [and] headaches” among other issues. One unsuspecting rugby player got such an injury.

The phrase ‘you should see the other guy’ perfectly applies to the situation that caused the injury of SHS senior, Zoe Goldenberg: Goldenberg walked away with a concussion, but as for the other guy… “I fractured her skull,” Goldenberg said.

Even with a fractured skull, the only thing this girl’s badly bruised mind could think about was when she could get back to playing her beloved sport. While concussed, Goldenberg felt the same way.

“I wanted to play [rugby] as soon as possible,” Goldenberg said . The question remains–why are players willing to risk it for rugby?

Some may put their wellbeing on the line because of a love for the game itself.

“I love rugby because it is a really aggressive sport,” Goldenberg said with a giggle.

Others may put themselves in danger for the glory that rugby can promise.

“I felt accomplished, proud, and amazing,”Goldenberg said after winning the 2017 Ohio state rugby championships.

An unmatched sense of belonging is the final and most heartwarming reason that some choose to play this bone-crushing sport.

Goldenberg has concluded that out of all the types of teams she has been on, rugby teams are by far the closest knit–and she has been on a lot of teams.
(In her 17 years of life, Zoe has played soccer, bowling, diving, track, basketball, and water polo in addition to rugby.)

“It is very different from being on a soccer team because [rugby] teams are so much closer, and there are no cliques. Everyone is friends with everyone,” Goldenberg said.

Though seriously dangerous, is undeniable that rugby has its draws. It is an incredibly exciting sport for its players, it promises glory, and it basically guarantees friendship–but is rugby worth the risk?