Sports coaches in Cumbria have dismissed calls for tackling to be banned in school rugby.

Writing in a leading medical journal, Allyson Pollock and Graham Kirkwood from the Institute of Health at Newcastle University said that most injuries in youth rugby occur due to the collision elements of the game.

They added that removing collision from school games will "reduce and mitigate the risk of injury" in pupils.

Prof Pollock said: "We call on the chief medical officers to act on the evidence and advise the UK government to put the interests of the child before those of corporate professional rugby unions and remove harmful contact from the school game.

"Most injures in youth rugby are because of the collision elements of the game, mainly the tackle.

"In March 2016, scientists and doctors from the Sport Collision Injury Collective called for the tackle and other forms of harmful contact to be removed from school rugby.

"The data in support of the call is compelling."

However, there is no mention of banning tackling in youth club rugby - and coaches believe that removing such a vital element from the game will be detrimental to youth rugby in Cumbria.

Both Jeremy Tiffen, director of sport at Carlisle's Austin Friars School and Mark Richardson, director of rugby at Aspatria Rugby Club, said that tackling should remain in youth rugby.

"I've played rugby at a competitive level pretty much all my life, from when I was six up until I was about 35," Mr Tiffen told the News & Star. "And the worst injury I ever received in that time was a dislocated shoulder when I was windsurfing.

"Children need to be given the opportunity to play properly and that includes teaching them the right tackling technique.

"The RFU has taken great steps to ensure that there's a certain level of expertise in coaching and that coaches have the right qualifications. There has been no mention of tackling being banned in club rugby.

"It means the onus is on teachers to ensure that tackling is taught correctly."

He added: "It will take something away from the game.

"Rugby is a test of courage. As a smaller player, there's a great feeling when you're able to bring down someone twice your size. You're able to prove something to yourself and there's a sense of achievement."

Mr Richardson added: "I agree that when it comes to a head injury, that the player should be taken from the field and only allowed to return once they've been assessed, but I don't agree with banning tackling completely.

"There's only been talk of banning it at school level, not at club level. So you're going to have boys and girls not being allowed to tackle when they're at school but they can for their club.

"There isn't really a difference so I'm not sure how you can allow it in one but not the other."