Blood rule

I assume that the blood rule was introduced for health and safety reasons, to minimise/eradicate the chance of blood-borne diseases being spread among players. If this is still an issue - and since the rule still requires bleeding players to leave the field we must assume it is - isn't it incumbent on bleeding players to 'put their hand up', and leave the field voluntarily?

Instead, players stay on as long as they can, until they're ordered off, sometimes trying to disguise the fact they're bleeding. Either it's a health issue or it isn't. If it is, shouldn't the players be looking out for one another and getting off the ground when bleeding? If it isn't, the rule should be abandoned.

Yep it's a health and safety thing. Was introduced into most team sports. Can add rugby union to this list...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_rule

Regards
JAS

from memory wasn't 'aids' the catalyst for the blood rule in the first place ?

bayman wrote:from memory wasn't 'aids' the catalyst for the blood rule in the first place ?

That's what I thought too.