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@danwentskiing
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan that looks *pain*ful. Heal up soon!
Things like this always prompt a helmet debate - witness the nutbars on birminghamcyclist.com - but Simple was wearing a helmet and it didn't help one bit by the looks of things. I don't think it's common practice for people to wear full face helmets for speedway, and face-plants are mercifully uncommon in polo. This sounds like a freak accident, and no amount of protection is going to prevent those.
BUT, face cages are pretty good for dissipating the impact from mallets/balls. I don't get why people want to take risks with their flipping eyes and mouths. I like seeing things (being functionally blind really makes you appreciate your sight) and eating things.
People may say that face impacts are rare, but they're not *that *rare. I've heard /seen photos of 5+ injurious facial impacts in European polo in the last year or so. And you're going to look like an idiot saying 'this really doesn't happen that often' when you roll up at hospital with your eye dangling on your cheek like some gruesome Christmas bauble.