Doctors and rugby union football: a research and development project

For several decades, unconfirmed rumours have suggested that prowess at rugby can help in securing a place at certain medical schools. It is a fact that most medical schools can field at least one team of rugby players with their attendants. After qualification, however, active participation in the game (of rugby) rapidly drops away and there is no suggestion that playing rugby confers any advantage in passing the MRCP or other postgraduate medical qualifications. This paper addresses the association of doctors with rugby.