Proposed " Class Action"

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Topic: Proposed " Class Action"

Posted By: Bigmal
Subject: Proposed " Class Action"
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 15:04

I have just read the story about the possibility ( probability?) of a group of ex players who intend seeking damages for medical problems allegedly caused by repeated blows to the head whilst playing.

For the avoidance of doubt I do not think it my place to comment on the specific individuals involved but clearly such action could have serious implications for those playing, refereeing, coaching and administering the game at all levels. With problems brought on by C19 will we now see further changes in the laws?

With the size and physicality of players especially at the top level it seems to me that the only potential solutions are likely to involve a reduction in numbers on the park as well as in the set pieces?

During lockdown I have watched a couple of games of League and noticed that high tackles are not penalised quite as rigorously as in Union. I wonder whether ex League players are suffering in the same way as Union players?

Replies:

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 15:16

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55201237" rel="nofollow - Steve Thompson in group of ex-rugby union internationals to sue for brain damage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55208227" rel="nofollow - Alix Popham: Ex-Wales flanker on early onset dementia diagnosis

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/08/steve-thompson-interview-world-cup-rugby-union-dementia-special-report" rel="nofollow - Steve Thompson: 'I can't remember winning the World Cup'

Posted By: kingsheathlad
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 19:52

Fortunately, I only suffered concussion once when playing in the 80's,but ended up in hospital. To this day I don't remember the game or the day. Although I was discharged the same day, I was not told anything about not playing the following week, however I had a two week holiday booked so I did not play again for four weeks, which may have been a blessing. .

Reading some of quotes by these players it is quite frightening to think they played so many games after concussion or being knocked out.

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Cauliflower ear.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 14:03

Some interesting stats.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55360214" rel="nofollow - Concussion in rugby union affected 20% of professional players in England in 2018-19

In 2018-19, 20.4% of players sustained at least one match concussion.

It is an increase from 16% in the 2017-18 season.

The report analysed 407 games and 763 players from 12 Premiership clubs.

For the eighth consecutive season, concussion was the most commonly reported match injury.

In total, there were 166 match concussions and 38 training concussions.

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:28

Steve@Mose wrote:

Some interesting stats.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55360214" rel="nofollow - Concussion in rugby union affected 20% of professional players in England in 2018-19

In 2018-19, 20.4% of players sustained at least one match concussion.

It is an increase from 16% in the 2017-18 season.

The report analysed 407 games and 763 players from 12 Premiership clubs.

For the eighth consecutive season, concussion was the most commonly reported match injury.

In total, there were 166 match concussions and 38 training concussions.

Part of that is going to be because the sport has got better at identifying and reporting it.

But part of it is also going to be bigger players colliding with each other and more physicality.

It's an argument for going back to two nights a week training, all players to have other jobs, and banning gyms...

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keep the faith

Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:48

I am amazed that considering clubs train possibly three times as long as they play that less than 20% of reported concussions happen in training. Agree sport much better at reporting it in matches , would like to believe that is the same for training but am sadly sceptical.

Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:50

marigold wrote:

I am amazed that considering clubs train possibly three times as long as they play that less than 20% of reported concussions happen in training. Agree sport much better at reporting it in matches , would like to believe that is the same for training but am sadly sceptical.

Probably because a lot of training isn't full contact.

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RAID ON

Posted By: workerbee
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:57

Rugby has changed, No longer do players try to avoid the tackle but take it head on as a battle of strength and physicality, no more Phil Bennetts more Joma Lomu's . This has been caused by the professional game expecting players to be gym bunnies rather than athletes. Too much emphasis on the bony building and less on Aerobic capacity. On way to reduce this would be to have less subs which would mean players having to last 80 minutes not 50. More and more players are going into the tackler with their heads down making it impossible to tackle unless they target the ankles ,many concussion injuries are on the tackler not the tackled person. there must be a way of stopping players leading with their head.

Banning schools tackling will be the end of the game as boys will simply play football. No one will want to leave school never tackling and go into senior rugby which will be a different and more physical game.

No easy answers but if these actions go ahead I can see it being the death of rugby.

Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 16:09

The legal beagles suggest that the class action won't be succesful but that a compromise will be reached - providing the players with some financial support.

Hopefully it will result in changes and reverses to some of the current practices and laws which are seen to be the root of the issue.

As Workerbee suggests one of the easiest fixes is the reduction in the number of replacements and an encouragement for players to train for longevity and not bulk up for strength. The issue I don't have a simple solution for is those players who play on after being injured, either because the injury isn't picked up or they don't feel they can come off because all the subs have been used.

As I said on here and other forums my Dad had an expression " Be more like dodgems not bumper cars" meaning look for the space not the man. Unfortunately too many players these days seem to take delight in looking for the man and not the space and we have players coached out of using thier initiative.

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Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards

Remember Wakefield RFC

Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 16:15

Raider sadly I have seen concussions happen in unopposed lineout practice and touch rugby. My point was about the volume of training compared to the volume of matches played

Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 20:04

marigold wrote:

Raider sadly I have seen concussions happen in unopposed lineout practice and touch rugby. My point was about the volume of training compared to the volume of matches played

I didn't say that concussions couldn't/didn't happen in training - I just suggested that as a lot of the training session will not be full contact that might explain why only 20% of concussions were attributed to training despite the time spent training being considerably longer than that playing actual matches.

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RAID ON

Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 20:50

As the instigator of this thread I note that RL players have been drawn into the matter so it would appear that this is a matter for BOTH codes as well as other sports.

Size, strength and subs are key issues but the leading with the head is arguably the real problem.

Over the years the move towards seeking contact as opposed to space has made the game more relentless in physical terms so we probably have to get back to players staying on their feet although there is separate criticism on these pages of Exeter style rolling mails.

The answer for the lower leagues has to be less subs and a more open game. The professional game is another matter so are we looking at protective headgear becoming mandatory and leading with the head to be penalised?

Difficult questions and complicated solutions face those in charge.

Posted By: Rucking Idiot
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 22:13

The game today is all about the big hit. Due mainly by the position you played was by your height, size & shape. For example Steve Thompson & Billy Beaumont. Perhaps the solution would be to take the game back to the 80's when tackles were below the waste and scrums were about technique...

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If it looks like a duck & quacks like a duck it's just my rucking luck!

Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 11:48

Is there anything in here about the player knowing in advance of the risks involved in playing a contact sport and accepting those risks - it is a bit like a soldier who signs up during peacetime and when war arises trying to leave because I didn't join up for that....... it is a part of the role. Yes, there is an obligation to try and support the players but the liability doesn't sit with the RFU or the Clubs but with the player as they knew what they were engaging in.

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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!

Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 12:29

Have to agree Castle Park Knight! Very unfortunate for those who suffer such consequences but sadly it comes with the territory and is, no doubt, part of the attraction of the sport for those who play it. We have been having such conversations about boxing for many, many years and still there is no shortage of those wishing to sign up and partake.

Can there be any better way to make a living than to get paid for playing a sport that, presumably, you love and enjoy. No-one is forced to play!

Many professional occupations come with inherent risks attached. You have mentioned the obvious one in being employed by our armed forces but what about police force, firemen, paramedics, scaffolders, roofers,....... the list is endless. All of these occupations are covered by insurance and compensation schemes and so it should remain with professional sportspeople

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 13:24

Thatbloke wrote:

No-one is forced to play!

Schools spring to mind (my own was - 30 years ago but still today - putting out 4 XVs in each year group per week), as do M&Js - the argument in both cases that the chid isn't competent to make the decision themselves (as in understanding the potential long term consequences).

IIRC doesn't someone have to sign a contract on behalf of an under 18, rather than the person themselves? Certainly do for the armed forces - so that's another potential liability in terms of clubs and more particularly academies.

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keep the faith

Posted By: Rucking Idiot
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 18:57

Fully agree with the 3 statements above. Having gone to a grammar school when you had 1 term of rugby with the choice of a 2nd term. Because I boxed I was placed in the front-row. You learnt your trade through the pain of not getting it right. However, didn't get my "Wings" until my 1st adult game v a London Irish XV at the age of 15. I knew the risks but played for the love of the game for another 45 seasons. My back, neck, knees, ankles & hands let me know I played the game. Even so would I do it all over again yes without question. Keep you & yours safe looking forward to meeting for a beer next Autumn....

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If it looks like a duck & quacks like a duck it's just my rucking luck!

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 19:28

Rucking Idiot wrote:

Fully agree with the 3 statements above. Having gone to a grammar school when you had 1 term of rugby with the choice of a 2nd term. Because I boxed I was placed in the front-row. You learnt your trade through the pain of not getting it right. However, didn't get my "Wings" until my 1st adult game v a London Irish XV at the age of 15. I knew the risks but played for the love of the game for another 45 seasons. My back, neck, knees, ankles & hands let me know I played the game. Even so would I do it all over again yes without question. Keep you & yours safe looking forward to meeting for a beer next Autumn....

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keep the faith

Posted By: Monkey Boy
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 23:20

Years of really poor coaching encouraging contact as opposed to avoiding it. Rugby is classed as an evasion sport but coached by too many people with egos and masculine issues

Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2020 at 08:08

Have been involved for many years with coaching at full range of ages and can honestly say i have never seen coaches encouraging contact as opposed to running through an available gap. What I have seen is coaches preparing players for the inevitable contact that happens in the game so they can deal with those situations. In fact footwork drills for front five players exist today to help them avoid defenders -never saw that in the days of Beaumont et al. Huge change has been the time spent on coaching defence and in particular on the organisation of team defence. Non tackling fly halves used to be celebrated and even play international rugby-these days they are not considered for selection.

Posted By: Sid James
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2020 at 08:34

All I can say is 'Volenti non fit injuria'.

My sympathies with your condition and personal problems but I would ask that please stop this claim as it has the potential to allow the 'PC/Sympathy voting' gang to get involved and ruin the game from which you made a living.

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All Knwoing All Seeing

Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2020 at 10:58

Good points Marigold - problem is we realistically can't go back 40 years and the players are unlikely to shrink or indeed reduce their training load.

I can't help feeling that in some way the game will have to clearly differentiate between the amateur and professional arms with some sort of "semi pro" level to provide a potential gateway to the professional game.

Perhaps the powers that be should consult with the likes of Mike Tindall who played at the highest level and yet has still turned out subsequently for his local team. He should be able to at least offer a few thoughts based on personal experience and I'm sure that there are others who could do the same?

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2021 at 10:23

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57819669" rel="nofollow - Concussion in rugby: World Rugby 'stands with' former players in new welfare plan

The plan, which World Rugby hopes will make it the "world's most progressive sport" in the area, includes:

Post-career care for former players
Head impact prevention
A welfare-driven law review
Focus on the women's game
Continued investment in education programmes
Ongoing engagement with "the rugby family"

Posted By: isleonian
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2021 at 19:16

As Sid James commented above "If you put yourself willingly in the firing line with full knowledge of possible injuries then if it hits you tough sh1* my friend".

Question: when did American Football adopt helmets and all the protective gear worn by payers, and why?

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2021 at 00:53

isleonian wrote:

Question: when did American Football adopt helmets and all the protective gear worn by payers, and why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_helmet" rel="nofollow - The home of dodgy info suggests the 1890s for the creation of helmets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoulder_pads" rel="nofollow - Surprisingly shoulder pads were created in 1877 , only 8 years after the first ever American football match. I guess that in the early days players were looking for every advantage they could get in the tackle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_football_players_who_died_during_their_careers#College" rel="nofollow - The list of college players who died as a result of injuries sustained during matches and practice is quite sobering .

There does not appear to be a comparable list for rugby players, but http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/stories-men-women-children-killed-15199636" rel="nofollow - this 2018 article from Wales Online covers a number of match-related deaths in recent years.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2021 at 08:32

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57907772" rel="nofollow - Sport is 'marking its own homework' on athletes' brain injuries, say MPs

Sport has been allowed to "mark its own homework" on reducing the risks of brain injury, an MPs' inquiry says.

Its report calls for a standard definition of concussion that all sports must use, and a paid medical officer at every major sporting event.

It comes as the first study to scan elite rugby players' brains suggests one in four could be at risk of small abnormalities.

But the long-term effects on brain health are not clear, researchers say.

And they stress that there are many health benefits to taking part in sport, which must also be taken into account.

Posted By: CJB1
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2021 at 08:50

Tee hee ...

"The football helmet is a piece of protective equipment used mainly made so Tom Brady can't kiss other players on the lips. "

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"What I need is a strong drink and a peer group"

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2021 at 08:57

CJB1 wrote:

Tee hee ...

"The football helmet is a piece of protective equipment used mainly made so Tom Brady can't kiss other players on the lips. "

That's not my edit...... Evil Smile

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2021 at 12:17

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58369271" rel="nofollow - Head impact study says players' cognitive function can decline after one season

Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2021 at 13:18

The article talks of 11,000 contact events a season, which is 30 a day every day of the year.

Most of those must be in training - and that suggest they are doing far too much contact training.

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Sweeney Delenda Est

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2021 at 17:37

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58981080" rel="nofollow - Players could drop out of game 'at all levels' unless there is change warns head injury foundation

The findings of the BRAIN study mainly relate to those who played before the game turned professional in 1995.

While it found no link between concussion and the length of career, and the cognitive function in elite male rugby players over the age of 50, trends in those older than 75 suggested a link between more head injuries and an increased risk of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/brain-study" rel="nofollow - Link to The BRAIN study.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2021 at 22:50

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59083181" rel="nofollow - England and New Zealand players to wear special mouthguards containing head-impact monitors

Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2021 at 23:41

I believe these are related to the ones Quins use.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/17/were-microchipped-mouthguards-the-key-to-harlequins-rugby-success" rel="nofollow - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/17/were-microchipped-mouthguards-the-key-to-harlequins-rugby-success

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Sweeney Delenda Est

Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 10:35

I imagine this will lead to more players going off for HIAs?

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RAID ON

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 11:34

Sid James wrote:

All I can say is 'Volenti non fit injuria'.

Agree absolutely.

Stick your head above the parapet, expect some return fire. (no pun intended).

I have limited sympathy for the individual players, to carry on playing after concussions (cf George North) is just f*cling stupid.

Caveat re undocumented injuries/unnoticed concussions. But, if you're off the pitch for an assessment and are told to stay off, give up the game, especially as everything is now out in the open.

Volenti is certainly now triggered, no claims for new injuries.

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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2022 at 08:39

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/61203456" rel="nofollow - Steve Thompson on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live

Steve Thompson: England's 2003 World Cup winner, who has been diagnosed with dementia, regrets having played rugby

Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson talks to BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live programme about being diagnosed with dementia.

The Ex-England hooker Thompson, 43, is one of a group of former players suing the game's governing bodies for negligence.

They say repeated blows to the head are to blame for their dementia.

"I sometimes find myself thinking the least selfish thing to do is just to kill myself. That's what this can do to me," Thompson told the Mail this week.

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2022 at 13:22

When did this first become apparent? With the advent of the professional, winner take all, aggressive game?

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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2022 at 13:33

FHLH wrote:

When did this first become apparent? With the advent of the professional, winner take all, aggressive game?

going to tread very carefully here because I've no intention of igniting a code war, but I think it was evident in 'punch Huckleberryly Pear' ex League players right back in the 50s (if not earlier) so probably. On the other hand, and this won't help those being diagnosed in their 40s now, go back far enough and most people were dying before they got old enough to get/show signs of things like this, so who knows? Maybe it has always been an issue in the pro and amateur games to a greater extent than we actually think.

I do worry occasionally that rugby (both codes) has got a pretty finite life left.

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keep the faith

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2022 at 11:25

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62194385" rel="nofollow - Ryan Jones: Ex-Wales captain reveals early onset dementia diagnosis

Wales' Grand Slam-winning captain Ryan Jones has revealed he has been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Jones, 41, won 75 caps for Wales between 2004 and 2014 and also played in three Tests for the British and Irish Lions.

The former back row said he had received the diagnosis of probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in December 2021.

Specialists told him he was one of the worst cases they had seen.

"I feel like my world is falling apart," Jones told the Sunday Times.

"And I am really scared. Because I've got three children and three step-children and I want to be a fantastic dad.

"I lived 15 years of my life like a superhero and I'm not. I don't know what the future holds.

Posted By: WESTCOMBE RANGER
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2022 at 21:31

I suffered a concussion during a game in the early nineties. Didn't have a clue at the time how it happened but I was flat out for about a minute ( so I was told) and was helped off the pitch because I couldn't walk. At that time there had been a guideline issued to all clubs by the RFU which specifically stated that anyone who had been concussed should not be considered for selection for the next 2 weeks. I availed myself of this opportunity to rest which at the time was greeted with mixed views, which I don't think need explaining,

It was only a guideline at the time but what it does show is that, even back then, there was an awareness of this issue and I was not playing at a high level ( and never have ) at the time.

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The older I get, the better I was.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2022 at 18:51

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62610273" rel="nofollow - Essex University pioneers grassroots rugby study

The effects of concussion in grassroots rugby is to be investigated in a new study at one club.

Researchers at the University of Essex will explore the impact of collisions, head injuries and recovery time across the season with Colchester Rugby Club.

Dr Ben Jones, a former player with Northampton Saints, Worcester Warriors and the England 7s is leading the study.

He said it could "safeguard the sport for future generations".

The university said the technology being used was "cutting edge" and hoped the study could "transform player safety across the globe".

Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2022 at 21:06

I believe it is Colchester

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Sweeney Delenda Est

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2022 at 13:38

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63131221" rel="nofollow - Steve Thompson: Rugby World Cup winner describes impact of dementia

World Cup winner Steve Thompson has packed away all his medals, trophies and memorabilia. Since he began to lose his memory, having reminders around is just too painful.

As he opens the box containing - among other things - his 2003 World Cup medal, MBE and photographs of him at Buckingham Palace, the former England international says he is embarrassed by them.

"I feel like a phoney," says the 44-year-old. "It feels like I haven't done it."

What's more, Thompson actually wishes he hadn't done it. Because then perhaps he wouldn't now have early onset dementia he believes was caused by taking hundreds of blows to the head during his career.

"If I hadn't done it, I might not be such a burden on the family," he says.

Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2022 at 14:25

But "you've have got to take the hit."

There is no hit, there never was a hit, a hit is illegal.

Any front row that said that should have been instantly yellow carded, as it means were deliberately cheating.

But the referees went along with it, with the backing of the IRB and the unions.

The IRB, the unions, the referees and especially the coaches have got dirty hands.

I know it is not just front rows that have had problems, but they are the majority.

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Sweeney Delenda Est

Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2022 at 18:29

We nee d to tone down the language. It’s not a hit, it’s a tackle or an engagement(at a scrum). Let’s stop cheering the dramatictackle which will have injured one of those involved, let’s cheer the pass, the half break and the great run.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2023 at 09:19

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64324547" rel="nofollow - Brain injury legal action: Former amateur rugby union players state case for claim

More than 55 former amateur rugby union players say the sport's governing bodies failed to protect them from permanent brain injury.

Lawyers representing the group say they have written to World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and Rugby Football Union setting out their case before a potential lawsuit.

It follows a similar move involving more than 200 ex-professional players.

World Rugby, the WRU and RFU say they are "progressive" on player welfare.

This latest claim involves retired female internationals and players involved in the men's game before it turned professional in 1995.

Former elite youth players and the family of a male player who was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in his post-mortem are also part of the group.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 09:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65088050" rel="nofollow - Brain injury claims against governing bodies may exceed £300m

Former rugby players diagnosed with brain injuries could get millions of pounds from the sport's governing bodies to pay for their care.

More than 200 ex-players have accused rugby governing bodies of failing to protect them against brain injuries.

Legal experts said the claims against the organisations could exceed £300m.

World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said they constantly strive to safeguard players.

The class action suit is being taken against all three governing bodies..

...

Crispin Cormack won the league and cup with Pontypridd in the 1990s, played for London Welsh and toured with Wales in Australia.

He now specialises in serious injury cases for Coles Miller Solicitors, including concussion, and believes the claims could reach into the hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mr Cormack said: "I would say a conservative estimate, personally, and I don't know everything about the claims and I've obviously not been privy to the medical reports, but if we take the worst possible scenario, I'd say a minimum of £300m and it could be skyrocketing upwards."

Jonathan Compton, a qualified barrister and solicitor who specialises in litigation at DMH Stallard, has advised large sports organisations in the past.

Mr Compton said: "I would expect any damages, because they affect younger people over a longer period of time, could be substantial."

He said he had no reason to doubt Mr Cormack's estimate.

"Given the numbers involved, I don't think that is an unreasonable figure - you're looking at a substantial number of people," he said.

Former dual-code professional Lenny Woodard, 46, is one of the many former rugby stars who have been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

The Pontypool born star, who won five Wales Rugby League caps and played for Wales in South Africa, now sits on a committee representing players involved in the claim.

He said he faced the prospect of having to retire in the next few years and did not want his partner or children to pay for what could be decades of care.

Mr Woodard said: "I was diagnosed in 2021, slowly but surely I see things getting worse.

"There's a misconception that we're trying to get a pay-out out of greed - but for me personally, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the others, we're just making sure our families aren't burdened with the cost of treating these diagnoses.

"I'm 46 now, in nine years time, at 55, I'll require full-time care then. If I live to 75, that's 20 years of full-time care. If you're looking at £1,500 a week on current figures, we're approaching millions of pounds.

"I don't want to go into any care setting, and I certainly don't want to be there for 20 years, but that is the reality we have to plan for."

Posted By: Sid James
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 12:53

This is a tragic tale. Those looking at needing care in the coming years do have my utmost sympathy but, I would like to understand more on why the players concerned feel that the Governing Bodies are in some way responsible for their condition and, why they feel that the Governing Bodies should shoulder the cost of their care.

Will this 'class action' start with early onset dementia cases and gradually work its way down to the thousands of ex-players who now struggle with daily tasks due to neck, shoulder, hip or knee injuries?

I have genuine fears for the future of our game should Governing Bodies be found to be responsible for conditions or injuries sustained by players who made the personal choice/decision to play Rugby and, in some cases, chose to make a career out of playing Rugby.

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All Knwoing All Seeing

Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 13:09

The work place has to be a safe place to be whether a factory, building site, coal mine or sports field. The law on health and safety states that "as far as is reasonably practicable", the work place should be a safe place to work, There is also some burden on employees to follow safe practises et.

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 13:34

tigerburnie wrote:

The work place has to be a safe place to be whether a factory, building site, coal mine or sports field. The law on health and safety states that "as far as is reasonably practicable", the work place should be a safe place to work, There is also some burden on employees to follow safe practises et.

Which is the killer (no pun intended) - as it also was for the tobacco industry.

Essentially, I think two things are probably true as starting points:

- at some time in the past of professional rugby (or the last years of amateur) no one really knew what they were doing in terms of the long-term impacts.

- while the long term impacts are still contested by some, we're not in the same state of complete ignorance now.

Consequently is going to come down to, as it did with tobacco, who knew what when, and how much was what was known catered for after that point. Basically, what was (or God help us/forbid *is*) the lag between knowledge and practice, and who are the unions, or even individual clubs, therefore on the hook for?

To Sid's point about choice, it does need to be informed choice. So I think the issue will be, given that they can't as individual players possibly have known all the risks given that the risks are only more recently emerging - e.g. any posited link between contact sport and dementia, or MND - was there a time when the sport either knew or *ought to have known* more than those players, and could they have made it clearer to those players? If so, then the players are probably correct that their choice wasn't an informed choice.

It's a complete can of worms.

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keep the faith

Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 14:02

I have sympathy with Sid's view, however there are factors which the governing bodies are responsible for.

As an example I played my senior rugby in the 70's and 80's when rucking was still allowed and collisions at the breakdown were nowhere near as impactful or violent as they are today.

I doubt whether I would have wanted to play today's game.....I may have concluded that certain aspects (especially the breakdown) were just too dangerous.

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''The future isn't what it used to be''

Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 14:58

I have total sympathy with the players and their families.

There are a number of points to consider.

A governing body has a duty of care to its players. The crux of any legal case is when did the RFU etc know of the potential for injury and what did it do about it. If the dangers were known but nothing was done about it then the legal cases stand a good of winning but on the other hand if the dangers were not known and therefore nothing was done because of this, then it reduces the chance of a succesful claim. For me of us, this is a 'new injury' and not known to us when we started to play - unlike, for example the chances of a broken leg. Players accept a certain chance of injuries - would they have played if they knew head injuries could cause dementia?

Secondly is there a difference between playing as a social amateur (pre 1995) and a semi-pro/professional player post 1995 (talking just Rugby Union here). For the latter the employer has a duty of care in addition to the governining body; but for the former who other than the RFU etc had a duty of care? Does that duty of care fall upon the coaching or medical staff who may have insisted a concussed player get back into action. How far down the 'chain' does the responsibility/duty of care lie?

Does the player share any responsibility - for example knowingly playing on when injured?

Thirdly, how do you separate when the damage was done - was it the first injury in a club game as a amateur, or a third knock playing for your club as a professional or a concussion whilst on international appearance. How easy is it to understand who is responsible?

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Posted By: Sid James
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2023 at 22:51

Is the 'duty of care' not covered by the laws if the game? Head high tackling has always been an offence so, are the match officials partly responsible and, the Clubs for not providing proper medical care in previous years?

We see evolution and learning in everything over the years so, can we really point to the past and use today's knowledge to hold it responsible?

How do you determine which hit caused the problem? How can anyone say with certainty that contact during the game caused the condition? How many players have put their head in a scrum, week after week for years, and have no issues? I would say hundreds of thousands.

Younger rugby players generally go through a phase of playing hard both on and off the field so, in later years can players honestly say that they have never done anything off the field that may have contributed to their condition?

Our game us under serious threat here. Player safety is without doubt important but our game is not our game if you do not accept the contact and the risks involved.

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All Knwoing All Seeing

Posted By: Mountain Man
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2023 at 09:13

Sid James wrote:

We see evolution and learning in everything over the years so, can we really point to the past and use today's knowledge to hold it responsible?

Our game us under serious threat here. Player safety is without doubt important but our game is not our game if you do not accept the contact and the risks involved.

Very well argued Sid, I agree. Clap

Posted By: WESTCOMBE RANGER
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2023 at 10:20

This is a repeat of a post I made back in July last year.

Quote

It was only a guideline at the time but what it does show is that, even back then, there was an awareness of this issue and I was not playing at a high level ( and never have ) at the time.

Unquote

The point I would now like to reiterate is that ALL CLUBS would surely have been notified, which begs further questions such as, was this ignored at club level, or even International level, or by the players themselves. Was it just the RFU who offered this advice and the other Home Unions didn't ?

There will be a lot of digging around to be done before anything gets settled.

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The older I get, the better I was.

Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2023 at 10:49

Sid James wrote:

We see evolution and learning in everything over the years so, can we really point to the past and use today's knowledge to hold it responsible?

How do you determine which hit caused the problem?

It's not about using today's knowledge to hold the past responsible though, it's about trying to understand if the past's knowledge was applied at the time. If it wasn't, there's a case. The whole thing with tobacco is not 'we know there's a problem now, so we'll hammer the tobacco companies for what they did then', it's 'the tobacco companies knew/suspected more than they let on for a couple of decades so we'll hammer them for the damage done while that was the case.'

What's (potentially rightly) worrying people in rugby is that there *could* be a similar situation - and part of the court case is to get to the bottom of that - or at least start the process. I don't want to fall into lazy 'no smoke without fire' cliches, but people are a bit worried for something where they know no-one's done anything wrong.

On the second bit, it'll end up being like car insurance. *If* there's actually a case to answer, and to be honest all anyone at the moment is doing is - probably rightly - looking into it, then it'll be at best 'being a rugby player was on the balance of probability a contributory factor', and settlements will have to reflect that.

You're absolutely right that we're probably sailing into the waters of existential crisis at this point, but we can't (and arguably shouldn't) therefore just wish it away.

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keep the faith

Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2023 at 17:44

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61651/reduction-of-head-contact-and-head-accelerations-%E2%80%93-law-trials-2023%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61651/reduction-of-head-contact-and-head-accelerations-%E2%80%93-law-trials-2023

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Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2023 at 17:57

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/law-variations-approved-to-lower-tackle-height-in-community-rugby-union%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/law-variations-approved-to-lower-tackle-height-in-community-rugby-union

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Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2023 at 18:52

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/28/government-tells-uk-grassroots-coaches-concussed-players-must-sit-out-21-days?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/28/government-tells-uk-grassroots-coaches-concussed-players-must-sit-out-21-days?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2023 at 08:23

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66315003" rel="nofollow - Concussion: Wales rugby great JPR Williams' fear after study

Thomas Owens, co-lead investigator on the University of South Wales (USW) study, said research found that retired players with a history of concussion had mild cognitive impairment.

"This is a state whereby the cognitive function of these individuals, in term of the way someone thinks, remembers information, processes that information and co-ordinates the body's movements declines over time, and particularly throughout ageing".

He said this put them at "increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases later in life".

But the researchers said not everyone who played contact sports would go on to develop cognitive decline.

...

Scientists at USW's neurovascular research laboratory analysed the brain health of 20 retired players aged between 60 and 80 who had suffered concussions.

For the first time, researchers found they had reduced blood and oxygen flow to the brain due to less nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels regulate blood around the body.

Some exhibited signs of mild cognitive impairment and all were outperformed by the control group in cognitive function tests.

The researchers said this was the first study to determine mechanisms that may cause cognitive decline and has implications for other contact sports.

It is hoped the research may contribute to improving protection for players and help with the introduction of pitch-side blood or saliva tests for concussion.

Mr Owens said: "It's important to note that we don't want to stop players playing rugby, but we want to make them inherently aware of the risks associated with forms of brain trauma and concussion.

"Make them aware, improve the way that we detect concussion at the pitchside and then improve the way we care for players following retirement."

...

There are other studies taking place investigating the health of former players. Lifestyle changes, including poor diet, alcohol dependency and lack of exercise may also accelerate the cognitive decline of former athletes.

USW researchers said they recognised this study had limitations in the relatively small sample size and it relies on participants remembering past concussions.

But they are aiming to carry out a larger study and investigate the potential differences in brain health between male and female athletes in contact sports.

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2023 at 13:10

American Football has recognised issues surrounding head injuries, and possibly consequent death, since the early 1900s - a cartoon suggesting fatality appeared in 1908. Cartoons at that time did not imply humour but were also a commentary on life.

The first major investigation by NFL into concussion related injuries started in 1994, publishing results from 2003 onwards eventually stating that there were no negative long-term health consequences associated with concussion.

Subsequent independent research from 2007 onwards challenged that conclusion and reports published as recently as 2014-2017 supported that opposing view.

A 2007 study commissioned by NFL reported that Alzheimer's or similar diseases had been diagnosed 19 times more frequently amongst the sample of retired players. The NFL challenged that report saying it was incomplete.

This is my preçis of a Wikipedia page on Concussions in American Football and is not claimed by me to be accurate.

One question must be whether this or similar research was shared with other contact sports worldwide - I suspect not.

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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2023 at 13:27

There is also a substantial amount of research into heading in Football (from about 2016 but may be earlier) and, of course, boxing.

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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2023 at 09:50

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67192693" rel="nofollow - Longer rugby careers linked to higher risk of brain injury - study

A study of former rugby players' brains has found that those who played for longer were more likely to develop a degenerative brain disease.

Out of 31 donated brains analysed, 21 had evidence of a condition linked to repeated head injuries and concussion.

Nearly two-thirds of those affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played at amateur level.

The researchers say their findings back up calls to reduce head impacts in all sports.

CTE is a brain condition thought to be caused by repeated head injuries and blows to the head. It slowly gets worse over time and leads to dementia.

People who regularly play contact sports such as football, boxing, rugby and American football have a higher chance of developing it, post-mortem studies have shown.

More than 300 former football, rugby league and rugby union players in the UK are taking legal action over brain injuries they claim they suffered during their careers.

Shaking and twisting

In this study, led by the University of Glasgow, scientists analysed the brains of 23 amateur and eight professional rugby players which had been donated for medical research.

With an average playing career of 18 years, 68% of the brains had traces of the brain condition CTE.

Thirteen of the affected brains belonged to club players, not professionals.

And the study calculated that with each extra year of rugby played, there was a 14% increase in the risk of developing CTE.

"It's the shaking and twisting and rotating of the head thousands of times over decades that's likely to cause deep damage in the brain," says Prof Willie Stewart, lead study author from the University of Glasgow.

He compares a head impact in rugby to "a spinning bowl of porridge" where the brain is the wobbly porridge in the middle.

Scottish Rugby welcomed the new study, saying it "supports the important conversations currently underway around the volume of player activity, with the aim of reducing the number of head contacts in our game".

Chief Medical Officer Dr James Robson said practical steps had been taken to improve safety, such as lowering the tackle height and launching a new online concussion education course for coaches, players and parents.

'Important to exercise'

World Rugby recently said that elite women would wear smart mouthguards, which can measure head movements, in an effort to manage concussion from January 2024.

Prof Stewart said reducing head impacts in rugby games and in training was what was needed, but the sport was currently not doing enough to address the problem.

The ex-players' brains in the study were donated to three brain banks - in Glasgow, at the Australian Sports Brain Bank in Sydney and at the Boston University School of Medicine.

With an average age of 60 when they died, most of the former players in the study played rugby before it became professional in 1995.

Prof Tara Spires-Jones, deputy director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said the strongest data linking contact sports to degenerative brain disease still came from professional or elite players.

"Brain injury, such as those that can occur in contact sports, are associated with an increased risk of dementias later in life, however physical activity generally is associated with lower risk of dementias," she said.

"So while it is a good idea to protect your brain by avoiding head injury, it is also very important to exercise."

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2023 at 12:02

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67554363" rel="nofollow - Concussion: Research in women's game lacking - World Rugby

There has not been enough research in the women's game on issues such as concussion, rugby bosses have admitted.

Concerns are being raised by experts over head injuries in the sport and the gap in knowledge about how they are sustained, prevented and treated.

Ex-Wales centre Alecs Donovan said when she got concussed playing for Ospreys she was "not even sure we had a physio. There wasn't that medical support".

World Rugby said there was a "definite need" to close the gap in knowledge.

Women's rugby in Wales has hit new heights with a surge in popularity and professional contracts for the international team.

...

World Rugby said it was working with other organisations on projects to gather data in the women's game, including the debut of smart mouthguards at the new WXV tournament.

Donovan, 32, and her ex-Wales teammate Elinor Snowsill were both affected by concussions during their careers.

Donovan, who played for Wales until 2021, said one time "I actually didn't know I was concussed" when she suffered a head injury while playing for her club side about seven years ago.

Ospreys declined to comment.

Fly-half Snowsill, who retired from international rugby in 2023, said there was still a reliance on male research for the women's game.

She told Wales Live: "Most of the things we do currently - the way we eat, the way we train - a lot of it is driven from and based on research on male athletes.

"But, we have completely different bodies, we play differently and we train differently.

"I think it's really important in concussion and in other areas that we increase how much research there is out there, specifically on female athletes."

Researchers say much of the focus around head injuries has been on the men's game for many years.

Cardiff Metropolitan University lecturers Dr Izzy Moore and Dr Molly McCarthy are collaborating with higher education facilities around the UK to work on filling that gap in people's knowledge.

Dr Moore said the lack of female-specific data meant "we are missing a huge piece of the jigsaw puzzle in looking after our female players".

One of these projects - led by Swansea University - involves gathering and monitoring data by using mouthguards that measure the force of head impacts during play and analysing videos from training and matches.

Dr Moore said: "When we look at the videos in the women's game we see over 50% of head impacts are occurring as players fall to the ground.

"Whereas in the men's game they have the stronger necks and they sustain head impacts mainly through direct body contact in a tackle event."

World Rugby data suggests women sustain head injuries mostly through head-to-head contact, which is different to that of a number of academic institutions in Wales.

Dr Moore said the age both sexes start playing might affect how they play and suffer injuries, with women often playing for the first time at university.

This gives their male counterparts a 10-year head start, with the early years "really important for developing their skills and tackle proficiency".

She added: "We may have women players who are going out on to the pitch for the first match they play and are still learning how to tackle. That may increase their injury risk."

Posted By: Paul10
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2023 at 08:51

Reaches high court tomorrow

Extract from Guarniad below

"There are 268 players involved in the action. They don’t all have the same diagnoses, or the same symptoms, but they all have their own stories.

At the high court on Friday a judge will decide whether they can go ahead with their group legal order, and, if they can, which test cases will be put forward for trial."

At training last night the U14s were told to dominate tackles and knock the ball carrier backwards.

I guess this is how it is explained bu RFU community coaching instructors.

Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2023 at 15:17

Paul10 wrote:

Reaches high court tomorrow

Extract from Guarniad below

"There are 268 players involved in the action. They don’t all have the same diagnoses, or the same symptoms, but they all have their own stories.

At the high court on Friday a judge will decide whether they can go ahead with their group legal order, and, if they can, which test cases will be put forward for trial."

At training last night the U14s were told to dominate tackles and knock the ball carrier backwards.

I guess this is how it is explained bu RFU community coaching instructors.

As long as good tackling technique is being coached there should not be a problem.

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Remember Wakefield RFC

Posted By: Baggins
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2023 at 16:15

Once again the hearing was adjourned as once again the players council didn't provide medical histories for the players to the defence.

I can't see what the player's council are doing here, if it is complicated - ask for more time, repeatedly coming to court without the evidence the court requires is not a good look.

Hopefully things are going on in the background to render this pointless but once the lawyers get involved things have a tendency to spin out into long and expensive cases.

Players affected must be looked after, regardless of whether it can be proved that rugby caused their health problems ( doubtful ) or not.

Proving rugby is the root cause is going to be nigh on impossible, it can only be given a statistical likelihood considering the same conditions turn up in people who never did a days exercise in their lives and the vast majority of rugby players have no issues in later life ( or haven't shown any so far as this seems to be an issue tied with going professional ).

Given that a solution where ex-players are looked after seems to be the only morally correct thing to do, but getting the lawyers involved just entrenches both sides.

Meanwhile how do we reduce the risk to current players? It can only be through less game time and that means smaller leagues ( uneconomic ), more players ( uneconomic ) or playing players drastically less so more players can be employed across the season.

It looks like the current number of games that top players have is unsustainable

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Propping up the board

Posted By: maire23
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2023 at 19:47

I’ve just read an article which has published the full list of player’s names that have been made public.

There are four from my own club, three of whom I knew well. One of which I am not surprised at as his career was finished very prematurely by head injuries- I got to know him very well at the time and despite my medical training it shocked me to hear of it. Another was very high profile at the time. The other two are two brothers, whom I knew reasonably well but I never knew either of them to struggle with concussion. Both of them struggled with various other injuries but never concussion. It just goes to show what was going on behind the scenes.

Link if anyone is interested-

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/full-list-76-welsh-rugby-28214553.amp" rel="nofollow - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/full-list-76-welsh-rugby-28214553.amp

You need to scroll to the bottom to see the list in full.

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2024 at 16:11

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/68251042" rel="nofollow - Concussion in women: New research under way into impact on female athletes

When the whistle blew at the end of the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup final, Kat Merchant was overcome with emotion for more reasons than one.

Not only had she and her England team-mates just beaten Canada to lift the trophy for a second time, but Merchant knew this would be her last outing in an England shirt.

Wing Merchant was struggling with the impact of a number of concussions - a total "probably in the thirties" - from the ages of 16 to 28.

"There is a great photo someone's got of my face, and I look like I've got 20,000 emotions going on," Merchant told BBC Sport.

"I burst out crying because I was like, 'I am never going to play rugby again'. I was never going to put my boots on.

"I was 28, still kind of top of my game, and I knew I was not going to do this again. Although I was really excited that we won, it was bittersweet."

Concussion and its impact has been discussed more in recent years, particularly in rugby and football. However, there is little research into the specific impact on women.

Some suggests women are at higher risk of concussions and can take longer to recover. But the data is sphazelnut - one sports scientist estimates that in 2021 only 6% of sports science literature as a whole used female-only participants.

...

'Four months of lying in the dark'

Concussion is a traumatic brain injury affecting mental function, meaning it can alter the way someone thinks, feels and remembers. Only about 10% result in losing consciousness.

For Merchant, her last concussion made her feel as though she was on a ferry, moving all the time. She had a fencing response - where the arms go up in the air in an unnatural position, sometimes for several seconds after the impact - and struggled with confusion in the weeks and months after.

"I was very confused about my family being there - I wouldn't put my clothes on because I said they weren't mine," she said.

"Loud noises, I would physically wince. And bright lights I would have this headache.

"I couldn't look at my phone; couldn't read a book. I would just sort of lie there in the dark. It was four months of that, wondering when you're ever going to feel all right again."

One study found men and women are likely to report different symptoms after a concussion - men, for example, are more likely to experience amnesia in the days and weeks after, while women report prolonged headaches, mental fatigue and difficulties with concentration.

Another suggests women could be more at risk depending on what phase of their menstrual cycle they are in.

Governing body World Rugby said in 2023 there had not been enough research on concussion in the women's game.

It has introduced smart mouthguards, which send alerts of high force to the independent matchday doctor, in the women's and men's game. The devices are also worn in training, helping coaches to tailor sessions.

It is not just rugby. A 2021 study found teenage girls who play football are almost twice as much at risk of concussion as teenage boys, with girls more likely to be concussed on contact with the ball or a goalpost.

There will never be a one-size-fits-all for any injury but, as Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has said, women are not small men.

As she put it last August: "Just because your men's team's workload or gym work is organised one way, that absolutely does not mean it should be planned the same for women."

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 11:08

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68236157" rel="nofollow - Smart gumshields: Why were they introduced, and what more can be done?

Smart gumshields that record the forces involved in collision sports are being used in the men's Six Nations for the first time.

The gumshields, which contain a chip to record gravitational forces, are being gradually rolled out in professional rugby union.

Few doubt that represents a step towards helping to better understand collision sports, but some of the research has been questioned by concussion experts, and there are calls for further change.

Here's what you need to know.

What is the background?

Rugby union faces a crisis over safety, with hundreds of former players taking the game's governing bodies to court over the management of head injuries during their careers.

In October, World Rugby confirmed smart mouthguards would be worn at the WXV - a new international competition - before being brought in worldwide from January 2024.

That came after several trials and two academic studies funded by World Rugby - the results of which it said provided "players and parents with greater confidence than ever before into the benefits and safety of rugby".

In October, chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey told BBC Sport the introduction of gumshields would be a "really positive" change.

The gumshields - made by Prevent Biometrics - record the gravitational force (G-force) and direction of force involved in contacts, which are known as "head acceleration events".

They can provide real-time data to a doctor or official on the sidelines, and be utilised to inform the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process players go through after head contact.

What did World Rugby's research say?

World Rugby funded the Otago Community Head Impact Detection study (Orchid) and its Elite Extension study, which was undertaken by Ulster University.

The Orchid study used smart gumshields to examine cumulative head acceleration events (HAEs) in male rugby players in New Zealand from the under-13 age group through to elite level.

It found 86% of forces on the head in community rugby are the same or less than those experienced in general exercise such as running, jumping and skipping, while 94% are lower than those previously measured on people riding a rollercoaster.

The Elite Extension study, which looked at both men's and women's rugby, found most contact events in the elite game do not result in significant force to the head, though forwards are more likely to experience force events than backs.

World Rugby said the data provided "a complete picture of playing rugby like never before". Its chairman Sir Bill Beaumont - a former England captain - adding the Orchid study was "concrete proof" the organisation was putting time, energy and effort into making the sport even safer and would "never stand still on player welfare".

World Rugby has developed minimum specifications for smart gumshields - which include independent testing - and says it will review them every six months.

The Prevent Biometrics gumshield was chosen for roll-out as World Rugby said it was the only manufacturer to meet its specifications.

A trial in 2019, when players from Welsh clubs Ospreys and Blues wore smart gumshields during a Pro14 match, used Protecht gumshields.

What has been the criticism?

The Orchid study's lead author acknowledges the technology is still in its infancy.

Professor Melanie Bussey, of the University of Otago, said: "Player safety is our utmost concern, and this technology is giving us the best chance we have of understanding the multifactorial nature of head injury in sport.

"But we need a lot more research to understand the clinical relevance of this data. That is how science works."

However, two concussion experts have said data from force events below 10G should have been disregarded, and there should have been greater detail for data recorded over 60G.

Events under 10G are similar to those experienced riding a rollercoaster or trampolining. Recent studies have found American Football players diagnosed with concussion had HAEs ranging from 40-150G.

Professor Alan Pearce, of La Trobe University in Melbourne, said it was "quite puzzling" that all forces over 60G were grouped together in the study.

"There is plenty of evidence to say that there are a lot of impacts, not just concussive impacts, above 60G, so it takes out a lot of data," he added.

"Rugby is saying a lot of the hits are no different to skipping and running... that's a clear case of if you're starting to collect data below 10G, well you can say things like that."

The main author of the Elite Extension study said all impacts above 60G were grouped together because there were such a low number of them.

But Dr Doug King, a New Zealand-based expert in head injury and head biomechanics, said concussions often occur above 90G and was therefore concerned the data was not showing "the full picture".

An academic paper presented to the International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury last year said the technology in the Prevent gumshield underestimated acceleration in higher-speed impacts

Professor Damian Bailey - director of the Neurovascular Research Laboratory at the University of South Wales - said: "There are justifiable concerns that some of the really big impacts that can really cause damage are going to be missed - going above 100G, for example.

"It can be quite rare, but these are events that are really important to capture."

In a statement, Prevent Biometrics said its Intelligent Mouthguard system was "the most widely evaluated and independently scrutinised head impact sensor on the planet" having gone through "thousands" of laboratory tests that were peer-reviewed and published.

World Rugby said the studies were independent, and data had been "accurately reported in full and independently peer-reviewed".

Of the seven co-authors of the Orchid study, five declared conflicts of interest, and two co-authors of the Elite Extension study were declared as World Rugby employees.

While it is common for sporting bodies to fund academic research, Prof Pearce said "a number" of scientists were "very concerned about the independence aspect".

"We're walking a very fine line between true independent research where funding organisations, including sport, should be able to give the money but have absolutely no involvement whatsoever," he said.

In response, the lead author of the study told the BBC that World Rugby was "not involved in the study's data processing, data analysis and interpretation of the research or outcomes" of the research to protect its integrity.

Prof Bussey added: "As academic researchers we have our own ethics and standards to uphold. Our research stands as independent work that has been published in one of the top scientific journals in our field and has been independently peer-reviewed by multiple, highly reputable, senior researchers in our field.

"We stand by our findings and our own integrity as researchers. From the outset our position with world rugby was that 'we will follow the data wherever that takes us'."

Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2024 at 13:09

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cy0lknlv2ylo" rel="nofollow - Brain-cooling treatment for concussion trialled

A new brain-cooling treatment for sports-related concussion is being trialled in professional rugby union.

It is the first acute treatment for the injury able to be delivered pitchside and is being used by six clubs in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

'PolarCap' works by delivering targeted cooling to the head and neck for between 45 and 60 minutes following a concussion injury.

The treatment originates from a five-year study in professional ice hockey in Sweden, which found it had the potential to reduce long-term concussion absence.

Mental and physical rest have until now been the main treatments for sports-related concussion, alongside a graduated return to action.