Rugby World Cup

• Commenting on the first quarter activity, Sophie Bellon, Sodexo Chairwoman and CEO, said:
  "First quarter growth has remained strong in all geographies, due to pricing, new contract ramp-ups and continued volume growth, particularly in Corporate services, Sports & Leisure and Education.
• Sodexo (excluding Pluxee) first quarter Fiscal 2024 consolidated revenues reached 6.3 billion euros, up +3.1% year-on-year including a negative currency impact of -4.8%, a net contribution from acquisitions and disposals of -0.3% and organic revenue growth of +8.2%.
• Organic growth in the quarter was driven by Food services, up +10.0% organically, while FM services were up +4.7%.
• Sodexo will hold a conference call (in English) today at 9:00 a.m. (Paris time), 8:00 a.m. (London time) to comment on its Q1 Fiscal 2024 revenues.

• Close to the final whistle, with France now up 96-0, the Namibian desert turned yellower still.
• Wayne Barnes, who will referee the RWC final between New Zealand and South Africa this weekend, is also a barrister by trade.
• As such, he will know where the onus should lie when critical decisions need to be taken in a trial between two elite teams.

Unfair and unsafe

• The spectacle is lost whenever there is a mismatch in numbers.
• In a collision contest, 14 against 15 hurts the game; 13 against 15 is unwatchable – and dangerous.
• As one would expect, it is generally the weaker of the two teams, already struggling to put up a defence, that concedes penalties and haemorrhages players.
• It is also unsafe.

Bad rules mean bad results

• It put Dupont out of the quarterfinal with South Africa, and may have accounted for France’s knife-edge loss in that game.
• If they are specified in the rules, the rules need revisiting.
• Yes, rules are central to the integrity of the game.
• When calls are marginal and the impacts disproportionate, however, the rules need to change.

Rugby can learn from other codes

• Each week of the playing season the AFL tribunal assesses the citations and dishes out penalties where warranted – typically suspensions – based on thorough, defended inspection.
• Read more:
  Professional men's rugby has major financial issues which need to be tackled

  Rugby union would be improved if sendings off were reserved for genuinely bad actors.

• If the offence occurs elsewhere, rugby could borrow from AFL, with a penalty given 50 metres closer to the offending team’s goal line (up to the five-metre line).
• No matter where on the field the crime occurred, a penalty try should be awarded between the posts.

Hopes for a fair final

• This will be especially important at the Stade de France in Paris this weekend when the All Blacks and South Africa both go for a record fourth Rugby World Cup title.
• Only if the case is beyond doubt on the visible evidence should there be an unlevel playing field for ten or more minutes.

Clive Thompson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Siya Kolisi’s journey from an adverse upbringing to becoming captain of a World Cup-winning South African rugby team, the Springboks, is one such story.
• Kolisi made history as the first black captain of the Springboks in a country where, because of apartheid and separate development, the professional sport was once an all-white affair.
• Rugby was firmly associated with white national pride, and now a black man from a humble background has become a national hero, reshaping the sport’s image.
• Kolisi’s story defies the odds and highlights the power of resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma or setbacks.

The early years

• Many black people continued living in disadvantaged settlements on the outskirts of cities and towns.
• As a result, he was raised by his grandmother, who performed ad hoc jobs until she could no longer work.
• Losing his primary caregiver was one of his most significant early challenges.
• The support from his coach and the responsibility he felt towards his teammates prompted a transformation in his coping strategies.

Coping strategies create resilience

• Kolisi’s story serves as a powerful testament to the concept of resilience: how individuals adapt and grow in response to challenges.
• Sometimes, people engage in socially unacceptable behaviours as coping mechanisms to survive their harsh realities.
• In a broader context, Kolisi’s story highlights the importance of recognising diverse social and cultural influences on human development.

Rugby as a lifeline

• Rugby played an important role in Kolisi’s life, both on and off the field.
• In a team environment, he found solace and a nurturing environment that provided security, a sense of belonging.
• By understanding the multifaceted aspects of their lives, we can help them on their journey towards success and fulfilment.

Beyond rugby

• Kolisi’s resilience and success is not limited to rugby.
• He’s used his platform to make a positive impact in his community and beyond.

Resilience matters

Kolisi’s story is not just about overcoming adversity but finding purpose and meaning in that adversity. He reminds us that no matter where we come from, we have the potential to rise above adversity, challenge the status quo and shape a brighter future. Resilience is the driving force that enables people to persevere, grow, and ultimately shape their futures.

• Soft tissue injuries, particularly hamstring injuries, have already ruled several players out of the World Cup, raising questions about why such incidents are so common.
• And hamstring strains are the most common, contributing to 15% of all injuries in rugby union.
• In the previous Rugby World Cup in 2019, hamstring injuries were the second most common match injury after concussion and accounted for nearly 50% of all missed training or playing days.

Anatomy of the hamstring muscles

• Pushing these muscles beyond their limits through stretching or overloading can lead to painful injuries, with the muscles potentially tearing.
• Muscles often work in pairs and some experts believe that an imbalance between the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh and the hamstring muscles at the back could also contribute to the problem.

What we found

• We discovered that the hamstring muscles of rugby players showed greater stiffness compared to the other group.
• So, as expected, our MRI analysis showed that the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh were significantly larger in rugby players relative to body size.
• But our research points to an interesting discrepancy – rugby players displayed an imbalance in size between their quadriceps and hamstring muscles.

Is there a solution?

• For instance, it’s important to keep an eye on older athletes and those with previous hamstring injuries, and manage fatigue appropriately.
• Encouraging athletes to have a comprehensive warm-up routine is also crucial.
• When muscles warm, they become more elastic, which might help them handle strain better and potentially prevent tearing.
• This exercise has been suggested to cut the rate of hamstring injuries in half among athletes in team sports.