Imposing Compulsory Rugby Union on Schoolchildren: An Analysis of English State-Funded Secondary Schools.

Objective: To establish the extent to which Rugby Union was a compulsory physical education activity in state-funded secondary schools in England and to understand the views of Subject Leaders for Physical Education with respect to injury risk.

Method: A cross-sectional research study using data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) from 288 state-funded secondary schools.

Results: Rugby Union was delivered in 81% ( = 234 of 288) of state-funded secondary school physical education curricula, including 83% ( = 229 of 275) of state-funded secondary school boys' and 54% ( = 151 of 282) of girls' physical education curricular.

Continuity, change and complexity in the performance of masculinity among elite young footballers in England.

Following recent research evidencing that young men are redefining the essential components of what it is to be a man, this paper draws on qualitative interviews with 22 elite-level, English Premier League academy level football (soccer) players to investigate their performances and understandings of masculinity in relation to decreasing homohysteria. Even in this gender-segregated, near-total institution, these working-class, non-educationally aspiring adolescents evidence an attenuated performance of 'maleness' and improved attitudinal disposition toward homosexuality. Congruent with insights developed by inclusive masculinity scholars, respondents maintained emotional closeness and physical tactility with male teammates and friends.