The Rugby Football Union claims that a new exercise programme that has been introduced to schools and age-grade club rugby this season has had a “phenomenal impact” in reducing injuries and concussions, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

The injury-prevention programme, which has been developed in conjunction with the University of Bath, has led to a reduction of overall injuries by 72 per cent and the number of concussions by 59 per cent for players who completed the exercises at least three times a week. It is understood that a total of almost 1,000 clubs and coaches signed up to the programme in the first two weeks of this season.

The governing body hopes it will have a major impact in reducing the risk of injuries for young players and help address fears of the dangers of the sport.

The revelation comes after Professor Allyson Pollock, from Newcastle University, urged the UK’s chief medical officers to remove contact from the school game, writing in the British Medical Journal that banning tackling would reduce head and neck injuries and concussion.

Listen to Brian Moore's rant on banning scrums in school rugby: