[The amount of maxillofacial risk in playing rugby]

123 cases of maxillo-facial injuries due to rugby and treated in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery at the University Teachers Hospital (C.H.U.) of Bordeaux between 1981 and 1984 are analyzed. The high rate of injuries decreases considerably if accidents caused by intentional brutality are excluded. This then approaches the rate for other team sports. Rugby is not basically a violent sport but can be made so by the unfairness of certain players. It would be most advisable to educate players along these lines.