Most sports have at least some element of risk involved for the participants. Others border on the edge of insanity.

This week's Top 5 is all about those sports which cause the most injuries - and the ones that can be the most lethal when things go wrong.

Here we go. And, by the way - don't try these at home...

5. Cheerleading

We know what you're thinking, but cheerleading is one of the front runners in terms of serious injuries. With around 20,000 reported injuries in the United States alone, this sport is not for the faint hearted. When you consider some of the ridiculous positions these girls (and the 'odd' guy) put themselves in, it's no wonder there are some extremely serious injuries. Anytime you flip someone high into the air, you've got to expect that at some point they're going to land flat on their face. Or worse...

You might think cheerleading is for dainty little girls, but no - you've gotta be tough (and a little crazy...) to partake in THIS brutal sport.

4. Cave Diving
There are a million things that can potentially go wrong when you decide to go cave diving, which (for those who don't know what that is) basically means swimming in underwater caves. As far as we're concerned, anyone who swims in caves filled with water has serious issues.

Firstly, there's the problem of faulty equipment, which can prove to be lethal if your air supply runs out and you're 100m below the surface. Secondly, and probably the most dangerous part, is that you're in the sea - which means SHARKS. And any sport that involves sharks has to be considered dangerous (and just plain stupid) in our opinion...

3. Golf
Another sport that people innocently think nothing can go wrong with. Don't be fooled by the tartan pants and funny little hats, though - this sport can be lethal.

Apparently around 4000 people die each year while out enjoying a round of golf, not to mention that 5% of all lightning fatality's occur on the fairway. When you're out on the course, it's not bad enough you've got to watch out for other people's balls, but you've also got to watch out for lightning - making this enjoyable pastime a lethal sport.

2. Mixed Martial Arts
A sport that involves another man trying to knock you out? Yep, we think it's dangerous, too.

While MMA might be considered brutal, there are actually a lot of rules to help keep the fighters safe from serious injuries. But that doesn't mean injuries don't occur - far from it, in fact. When you've got another guy whose objective is to either knock you out, or submit you via some maneuver designed to break your arm, serious injuries are going to be a fact of life.

Still - we think we'd take our chances with some fighter than we would a shark or a bolt of lightning...us aside, though, we think MMA has to come in at #2.

1. Base Jumping
Before we start - if you do this, you're nuts.

Base jumping has to have the most amount of risk involved in any sport. If you're falling towards the earth at a million miles an hour, and your chute doesn't open, there's nothing you can do except watch your life flash before your eyes. Although to be fair you'd probably be too busy screaming and filling your pants to notice some precious memories from your childhood...

If everything DOES go right, it's probably one of the greatest thrills you could experience - but that doesn't change the fact that when things DO go wrong, they go wrong in a spectacularly bad way.

Call us chicken, but we'd prefer our feet planted safely on the ground.


Head to the forum, and give us your thoughts!

Photo Credits (Flickr) - terren in Virginia (cheerleaders), Rescue Dog (base jumper).

New Zealand rugby has always boasted about the depth of their players. Whenever someone leaves, there's always been someone ready to step into the black jersey. It's one of the reasons the All Blacks have been so dominant for so long.

But at the end of last year, we lost a lot of very experienced players to European clubs - which meant 2008 was always going to be about developing the next lot of All Blacks.

The year hasn't gone as smoothly as we'd all have liked, and we think you'd all agree that one of the biggest problems facing the All Blacks is that our depth is really being tested - and might not be as deep as we'd once thought.

How could it be when you lose players like Collins, Jack, Oliver, Hayman, Mauger, Howlett, McAllister..... the list goes on.

So, we thought we'd have a look at the players the All Black selectors have to choose from if and when injuries strike - as they have with McCaw, Williams, Ellis, Cowan and Hore so far this year.

So:

Props: John Schwalger and Jaime McIntosh are capable of playing Test rugby, while Wyatt Crockett, Jacob Ellison and Ben Castle need a bit more experience.

Hookers: Hika Elliot, while relatively inexperienced, is tough - and a great scrummager. The other option is Cory Flynn, who is injured at the moment - he probably would have been called in if available.

Locks: Jason Eaton, Kevin O'Neill, and Ross Filipo all have Test experience, while Tom Donnolly has plenty of Super 14 experience.

Loose Forwards: Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Keiran Reid and Hoani MacDonald are all great players, but have no experience at the highest level. Mose Tui'alii has played for the All Blacks, but has never cemented a spot with the team.

While there are plenty of options in the forwards, the fact is that most of them are new - and possibly not ready for Test rugby, just yet.

The problem with depth becomes extremely obvious when we look at the backs.

Halfback: Piri Weepu is the obvious choice, and should consider himself unlucky not to have been selected earlier in the year. Taniela Moa was impressive in the Super 14, but is not ready for the pressures of Test rugby - he needs more game time with Auckland. Jaime Nutbrown is the other option, but, quite honestly, we don't think he has the goods to be an All Black.

First-five: This is our biggest worry, with Carter and Donald the only two players capable of wearing the number ten jersey. If either gets injured Jimmy Goppeth would be the only choice, unless they try Stephen Brett at first-five. Callum Bruce would be a very long shot...

Inside Center: Brett is a good attacking option, but can be exposed on defence. Benson Stanley is a good young player, but needs another year of Super 14 rugby before he should step up. Tamati Ellison is another option.

Center: Casey Laulala is injured and therefore unavailable, while Ben Atiga and Isaia Toeava have both been linked to overseas clubs. Tamati Ellison can also play center.

Wings: Lelia Masaga had an impressive Super 14, but showed signs of inexperience. He is capable, though, and offers a lot on attack. Hosea Gear is also an attacking machine, and could possibly follow in his brother Rico's steps.

Fullback: Paul Williams is the clear favourite if Muliaina or MacDonald are unavailable. Other options are Sosene Anesi, who has played for the All Blacks, and Shannon Paku, who has has plenty of experience with Wellington and the New Zealand Maori.

There are a lot of players to pick from, but that's not the issue. The issue is this - so many of these players are inexperienced, and may well be exposed if introduced to the highest level.

Let's just pray the All Blacks don't suffer anymore injuries...