Get involved in Rugby Union

With another great RBS Six Nations competition having been played, we’re seeing a spike in interest in Rugby Union as players both young and old are being inspired by the level of talent we witnessed on the pitches. Now, the RFU is calling all players to find a local club team and get involved. They have said that rugby is “a territorial, full-contact, team game, inclusive of all shapes and sizes, where 20-stone bulldozers are valued just as highly as small, pacey whippets”. And it could not be more true – we found ourselves cheering on 118kg ‘bulldozer’ prop, Joe Marler just as much as 92kg Chris Ashton, who was out there on the wing being a ‘pacey whippet’!

Rugby Union originated in England in the early 19^th century and William Webb Ellis is often credited with its invention, running with the ball in hand in 1823 at Rugby School when he supposedly caught the ball while playing football and targeted the opposition goal. The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987, taking place every four years, and annual competitions include The Six Nations Championship in Europe and The Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere. As a major global sport, we’re urging everyone to give rugby a try if you haven’t already. The RFU website explains more about the various forms of rugby union and offers a club finder to help you locate a local team. 

Find out more here: http://www.rfu.com/takingpart/choose_play

Why is it good for you?

Rugby offers numerous benefits that all contribute towards a healthier lifestyle, from developing core stability to improving cardiovascular ability. Current guidelines recommend that adults should partake in 30 minutes of moderately intense physical exercise for 5 days a week, and as a high-paced sport, playing rugby certainly fulfils this criteria even at the most basic level. Every game involves sprinting, tackling, pushing, jumping and kicking, all of which involve fitness and endurance, upper and lower body strength, speed, agility as well as more precise ball-handling and kicking skills.

As a team sport, the social interaction and camaraderie associated with rugby also have significant benefits as it can encourage psychological well-bring, have positive effects on mood and behaviour, and maintain energy balance. This is especially true for boys since rugby is arguably the most economical of sports when it comes to manpower and inclusion; it can accommodate up to 30 players, welcomes the huge discrepancy between physical sizes, encourages intense exercise in an hour…all on one field more or less the right size. At the centre of the game lies the co-operation of all 15 players rather than the brilliance of one and though there are opportunities for individual flair, the success of the team pivots around ability of each team member to work with the others. This is valuable skill not only in sport but in life and an important one to impression onto boys. Similarly, both the laws enforced by the referee and the unspoken rules of conduct – to not bite, gouge, attack vulnerable areas – impart the importance of restraint and self-discipline, hence why rugby is used as the main team-building exercise for recruits for premier Army regiments.

The intense physical contact nature of the game means that rugby players are prone to injuries, including shoulder joint sprains, hamstring strings, ankle sprains and knee ligament injuries. The risk of these can be reduced when playing rugby by warming up and cooling down properly, developing core skills, employing the correct technique and using protective equipment. However, it is impossible to eliminate the risk of injury and the costs associated. If you’re looking to get into rugby, or are already a committed member of a team, make sure you protect yourself financially as well as physically. 

Find out more about our insurance policy, tailored to the demands of the game to make sure you’re protected: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/rugby.html/

Ski Safe

This season marks the most unstable snowpack in 15 years meaning that even the most experienced and qualified of guides are gambling when it comes to taking both themselves, and their clients, outside the safety zones. The desire for individuals to explore the sensational and unrivalled delights of the backcountry is prolific yet this season, when over 20 skiers and snowboarders have already died in Europe, it is time to really consider whether making fresh tracks this season is worth the risk of never being able to make them again. It is not just naïve amateurs who are becoming victims to unforgiving avalanches; three of the victims were completing an intensive technical course with a highly recommended guide in Switzerland when they swept to their deaths. What they were learning? Avalanche safety.

The cruel irony of this situation as just one example goes to show the unpredictability of the mountains and their tragic ability to snatch lives away in an instant. Even those equipped with all the safety gear are still at risk; ABS airbags are designed to deploy and pull you out of an avalanche when you pull the release but even these are only effective in a very exact moment of crisis. If you really can’t resist the risk, it is advisable at the very least to be properly equipped with a transceiver, probe, shovel and mobile phone, or to invest in an ABS airbag. Seeking the advice and guidance of a professional is also recommended but it is important to remember that even he is not invincible.

What do I need?

Transceiver: If caught in an avalanche there is no time to spare and your minutes are numbered as survival rates drop rapidly after 15 minutes of snow submersion. A transceiver both emits and receives a signal that can be picked up by other transceivers which means that if you are wearing one, the rest of your group can find you quickly.

Probe: A probe goes hand in hand with a transceiver as once you’ve located their signal, you can use a probe to locate the buried individual. It easily penetrates even compact snow and comes in different weights and lengths.

Shovel: You’ve located your friend with the transceiver, you’ve found them with the probe…now you need to get them out as quickly as possible and nothing works faster when it comes to digging than a shovel. They are designed to be light, compact and often fold up to fit into backpacks.

ABS: Avalanche airbags are a serious investment but are recognised to significantly improve the chances of survival as they keep you above an avalanche rather than under it…they inflate when you pull the release and since large things rise while smaller ones sink, you are lifted to safety. You can buy a backpack – or an ABS system – which comes complete with two airbags and all the technology.

Finally, if you’re planning a ski holiday at this time of year, particularly when the weather is warming up and conditions could become even more dangerous, make sure you’ve got a comprehensive and stable insurance policy in place. The lives of over 20 skiers and snowboarders have been taken and the same number again has been seriously injured in avalanches alone. We offer a range of winter sports insurance policies from skiing, to heli-skiing, to back-country skiing. Follow the link below to find out more information and get a quote today:

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/ski_insurance.html/

Are you SURE you’re insured?

When it comes to going abroad, most people are aware of the need for travel insurance. It is now common knowledge that buying travel insurance to protect your possessions, your luggage and your health is an essential item on the pre-holiday check list. And most important it would seem these days, is finding the right kind of travel insurance to suit both you and your trip. The three top reasons according to the U.S Travel Insurance Association for purchasing it are protection against the unexpected, worries about losing the financial investment that goes into planning a trip, and peace of mind. Even if you’ve planned your trip to be fully restorative – sun soaked beaches, long lunches and minimal activity – there is still a whole host of things that could go wrong, such as flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss, or perhaps you need to cancel your trip due to illness. When you compare the cost of your trip to the cost of a policy, suddenly travel insurance seems well worth the investment.

But what if your trip is going to be more active? Perhaps you’re planning on doing some kitesurfing, sailing or water-rafting? If you’re visiting an adventure capital are you likely to make the most of an opportunity to do a bungee jump? In winter, you might be going skiing or snowboarding? The added risks that come with these sports and with all sports in general are why travel insurance on its own is often insufficient. Following being drunk, the next reason given for rejection of a claim was if the policyholder had undertaken a sport or extreme excursion that was not covered. With the rising popularity of adventure sports holidays where travellers can indulge in challenging new activities while keeping fit, the need for an insurance policy more specific and tailored than its average travel counterpart is becoming more apparent. If lying by the pool, book and cocktail in hand remains your perfect holiday then a standard travel insurance policy will be perfect for you and will cover that level of activity. However, if you’re seeking new thrills and are likely to be tempted by the scuba-diving trip, off-piste skiing day or climbing expedition, then don’t risk your health and the value of your trip by only taking out regular insurance.

At SportsCover Direct, we can offer both sports travel insurance for specific sports as well as more general adventure sports and winter sports travel insurance. With over 20 years’ experience in the sporting field, we have a good idea of what is required from making sure your equipment is protected, to medical expenses, to repatriation to the UK in the event of serious accidents. While we all like to shop around for the best deals when it comes to insurance (or anything!) your priority should be making sure you are fully covered for all the activities you are likely to get involved in, rather than just opting for the cheapest quote. We want to make sure we can fulfil the reasons most of you choose travel insurance: protection against the unexpected - our policies can cover the costs of a hospital stay abroad if you sustain a sudden injury while climbing etc; peace of mind – even when active, holidays should be worry-free and we want to make sure you can enjoy new adventures without being hung up on the ifs and buts; losing the financial investment that goes into planning a trip – just like the standard travel insurance policies, we will still cover the costs of delayed flights, lost baggage and illness!

To find out more visit our site so you can be SURE that you’re insured.

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

RBS Six Nations

The world’s oldest and largest annual premier rugby tournament began last weekend with victories from Ireland, Wales and a last-minute win from France over England . The competition began in 1871 when the first rugby union international was played between England and Scotland with the latter coming out on top. Over a century later, it has grown in popularity, tradition and competition, with six nations – England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy – now challenging each other for the trophy, commissioned by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2006.

Following 1871, annual and occasional friendly matches were played between England and Scotland until 1883, when the inaugural Home International Championship, comprising England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales was played. France officially joined in 1910 and the Championship became the Five Nations, remaining like this through its suspension during World War I and II (excluding France’s ejection 1931-1939), and it was not until 2000 that the tournament welcomed Italy, becoming the Six Nations as we know it today.  Over its course of play, the Championship has acquired a simple format which encourages millions of people to tune in annually worldwide. Each team plays every other team once, with home field advantage alternating from one year to the next. The winning team is awarded 2 points, a draw results in 1 and a loss gains nothing. Victory in every game awards that team the ‘Grand Slam’ while victory by any Home Nation over the other three Home Nations constitutes a ‘Triple Crown’. The current Championship holders are Wales, who denied England both this and their Grand Slam chances on the final weekend of 2013.

This year, England are looking to claim back the title they last held in 2011 and with the rising support, this is certainly possible. In 2013, over one million people attended the 15 matches, making it the best attended international rugby tournament in the world on a per match basis. The Championship which is completed over seven weekends in February and March is aired in over 160 countries, and it attracts an ever growing media focus. England hooker, Dylan Hartley has insisted that winning this year’s competition is crucial to the national team’s development, believing that the England squad have the ability to go all the way and that lifting the Six Nations would be the ideal way to start the countdown to the World Cup. “Win the World Cup?” he says, “Certainly we can”.

For some, the 6 Nations dream is over already. Rhys Patchell, the Welsh 20 year old fly-half sustained a knee injury while playing for his club side which a scan confirmed will require surgery. Out for a possible four months, it is unlikely that Patchell will play any part in Wales’ attempt to retain the Championship title. Ireland’s back rower Sean O’Brien is also in danger of missing the entire 6 Nations as he requires surgery on the dislocated left shoulder he suffered in a match against Ulster in December last year. The physicality of rugby means the level of injury sustained is high; physio treatment alone can be very expensive. Protect yourself against the physical and financial risks with a comprehensive insurance policy, like the one we’ve designed especially for rugby. Find out more here: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/rugby.html/

Stay tuned this weekend to watch Ireland vs Wales and England vs Scotland on Saturday, and France vs Italy on Sunday! 

Sochi 2014

 The next winter Olympic Games will be held in Sochi, Russia from February 7-23 2014.  It will host the most compact Winter Games in the history of the Olympic Movement as it will be possible to get from one venue to another in just a matter of minutes! The competition this year is intense as some of the world’s best athletes will participate in test events (international tests on the sporting disciplines) which are on a scale comparable to the staging of two Olympic Games. The disciplines covered can be seen below:

Olympic disciplines: ice hockey, speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating, curling, ski jumping, Nordic combined, biathlon, skiing, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard, bobsleigh, skeleton, luge.

Paralympic disciplines: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling, biathlon, ice sledge hockey.

Although the summer Olympic Games may be more famous, and boasted a spectacular opening ceremony in 2012, Sochia promises to deliver. Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission has said that “The Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Games will be seen by somewhere in the region of two billion people and needs to be a beautiful spectacle”. The Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Kozak, is also sure of the upcoming spectacle, commenting that the Winter Games have given a powerful boost the development of technology, and consequently, “The Games in Sochi will be shown entirely in HD format and advanced Ultra High Definition technology will be used in Sochi”. We’re excited to hear this as it demonstrates the long way we have come from 1968 when the first Olympic Games were televised live in Colour in Mexico! If you are not able to get a ticket as they are currently selling out within the first few hours of availability, then the full experience can be brought to you within the comfort of your own home.

However, we’re assured that these games are not to be missed if you have the opportunity as Russia endeavour to surpass the levels of excellence previously achieved. The Olympic Torch Relay itself has broken several records as 14,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through Russia, travelling by various forms of transport (including hot air balloon!) in order to pass through 2,900 Russian cities and villages. The Relay began on 7 October 2013 and will conclude at the ‘Fisht’ Olympic Stadium on 7 March 2014. Wherever you are, make sure you tune in for this special ceremony which will show the world a new Russia based on community instead of stereotypes; the torchbearers range from athletes to volunteers to public figures to people with a disability…the only condition is that they are over 14. 

For more information about the games, or to check out any of the sporting schedules, go to Sochi’s official website!

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/

Heli-Happiness – is skiing outside the crowds worth it?

If you are a ski or snowboard lover and continue to return to the Alps, or perhaps the Rockies, year after year, then maybe this year it is time to leave the chairlift queues and busy pistes behind in search of fresh powder and an unbeatable experience. Be warned though, after embarking on a heli-skiing holiday, or perhaps just a day out, you will undoubtedly realise what all the fuss is about and may find it difficult to return to chilly chairlift rides!

Yes, heli-skiing is very expensive and that fact cannot be ignored but if you are considering it, then it is worth taking the time to appreciate what you get for your money. A helicopter can take you from the ground to the top in a couple of minutes whilst you experience magical and uninterrupted views that people may pay hundreds to see on sightseeing flights. You will then get multiple opportunities throughout your heli-skiing day to experience the pure joy of making your own tracks through fresh powder without being surrounded by the hordes who flock to the obvious off-piste within a ski resort. In nearly all cases you will ski (or snowboard) the kind of conditions that you would be incredibly fortunate to catch even once in a year in a top powder resort such as Whistler or Utah. And it is easy to see why…the heli-ski area covered by a helicopter in one day makes even a big resort seem small in comparison, yet only a tiny fraction of the skiers are dropped onto the terrain! Heli-skiing companies now offer a wide variety of packages from family trips to private tours but on average, you are not likely to be sharing a helicopter with more than 7 people. When you consider the fact that chairlifts nowadays can take up to 8 people, who all depart at the top to ski the same run, you will appreciate the capacity heli-skiing offers for breath-taking experiences away from the routine.

There is also the opportunity to forge new bonds while sharing a trip of a life-time with likeminded people. Whether it is just for the day, or over the course of the week, you will be indulging in the champagne powder luxury of untamed places only accessible by helicopter, and mutual exhilaration can create long-lasting friendships. There is undoubtedly something magical and elemental about standing on top of a deserted mountain with only untouched powder ahead of you, and the knowledge that when you can ski no further, a helicopter will be ready and waiting to take you to the top of the next peak! If you are looking to invest in a week’s long holiday then the bliss continues well into the evening as many companies now offer very comfortable lodging which includes sumptuous three-course dinners, massages and saunas. Finally it has to be said that the best heli-skiing is found in Canada and North America. Although there are several tour operators in the Alps, the snow guarantee and expanse of space unfortunately just doesn’t compare. The industry leader is most likely Canadian Mountain Holidays, who operate 11 fantastic lodges all over north-western Canada.

You can find out more on their website: http://www.canadianmountainholidays.com/

…and as they say, it’s more than a vacation!!

At SportsCover Direct, we are able to offer you a protective insurance policy tailored to the demands of a heli-skiing holiday. We know where you are most likely to need the extra cover, such as repatriation and search and rescue, as well as reimbursement of costs should any natural disaster or extreme conditions affect your holiday. For more information, take a look here: 

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/heli_skiing_insurance.html/

The Dangers of Going Head First - Concussion in Sport

For years and years concussion in sport has almost been a taboo when it comes to injury – it sounds potentially worse than something like a sprained ankle but no one is really sure what it means or what to do if you get it. So what do most people tend to do? Well of course, they play on! Let’s say you’re playing rugby and you’re down on the scoreboard and you experience a blow to the head in a tackle. You feel a little dazed, you’re not too sure what just happened and suddenly the referee is asking if you can play on. You don’t want to let your team mates down so you shake it off and continue the match...

This scenario is far from uncommon and underlines some of the problems surrounding concussion in sport. There is more emphasis on performance than safety when it comes to most sports as demonstrated by the ‘culture of resistance’ which faces young athletes today, and has done so for years. Many players, both young and old, are subjected to the implicit pressures of performance and therefore succumb to returning to play prematurely, or worse, do not report their injury, instead choosing to play through the pain, or confusion. This is inadvertently encouraged by the bravado and competitive camaraderie which surrounds male-dominated, physical and often violent sports such as rugby, American football and ice hockey.

Fortunately, new guidelines have emerged recently stating that when athletes are suspected of having concussion, they should be taken out of action immediately. This reflects the new public focus gained by sport concussion over recent years due to the widespread concern regarding the risk of developing long term mental-impairment. These new guidelines differ from their older counterparts in the sense that they advocate a more individualised assessment and management of injury. Whereas the severity of the concussion at the time was once used as the factor which determined the time frame from return to play, the emphasis is now on minimising any risks that could become apparent in the long term.

This has undoubtedly come around as a result of payouts from sporting bodies like NFL, who agreed to settle players’ concussion suits for $765 million earlier this year. This will compensate more than 5,000 ex-players who have been fighting for settlement for head-related injuries, and more money has also been awarded to fund research into the links between head trauma during sport and the delayed development of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Players argued in their law suits that NFL had known for over 75 years that concussion posed long-term health risks, but that they did not warn either them or their coaches of it until June 2010. NFL have dismissed this, saying that players have always known the risks of a violent game, but is this a valid argument?

It is arguably evasive of NFL to use this reason as a scapegoat as players may not always associate the game-to-game violence of a sport with long term implications. If a player experiences an injury during a game, particularly a head injury, his or her decision making ability is impaired. If the referee or coach asks a player if he is okay to carry on, should they trust an affirmative response? Absolutely not, and if an athlete has torn his ACL on the field, you wouldn’t expect him to tape it up and play on. The same applies for concussion, which is an injury that is now being taken as seriously as it should have been for the last decade as people become more aware of the long term consequences.

However, it is not just American football which has a high concussion rate. Other sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer, basketball and rugby are all comparably risky when it comes to head trauma. Protective sports equipment is highly recommended and helmets for example can often guard against other injuries such as skull fractures and face injuries. Alongside this, it is a good idea to have a protective insurance policy that will cover you and your finances in the event of an accident. The potential costs incurred by ongoing head trauma could be crippling, not to mention the legal costs involved in taking a body such as NFL to court...

Whether you’re playing at home or abroad, protect yourself now with one of our specialised, tailored and comprehensive policies and get a quote today:

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/