Rugby's Brain Injury Crisis: Players Speak Out as Legal Battle Looms
As a major court case draws near, the sport of rugby faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of head injuries and the long-term consequences for players. Former international stars have come forward to share their personal battles with brain damage, raising urgent questions about player safety and the future of the game.
The Personal Toll: Lives Changed Forever
Alix Popham, a former Wales international capped 33 times, received a diagnosis of early onset dementia six years ago. Medical professionals estimate he endured over 100,000 sub-concussive impacts during his 14-year career. Today, his daily routine includes sessions in a hyperbaric chamber, along with sauna and cold plunge treatments at home.
"I look at my brain as an old Nokia battery – I've only got so much bandwidth," Popham explains from the clubhouse of London Welsh RFC. "I've had to pull back and recognise that. Before that, I didn't know I had this issue, so I'd just plough on, and that would be where I'd have this explosion. I just couldn't control it."
Kat Merchant, a 2014 World Cup winner with England, recalls her first concussion at age 16 when playing for Worcester. "I got knocked out fully, threw up, went to A&E," she remembers. By 2013, she suffered a seizure during a game that left her unable to recognize her own family. "Those four months were dark," Merchant says of her recovery period.
The Science Behind the Impact
Damian Bailey, a professor of physiology and director of the Neurovascular Research Laboratory at the University of South Wales, studies what happens to brains subjected to repeated impacts. "I'm interested in what happens in the brain when it is bashed about," he states bluntly.
"The game has changed incredibly," Bailey continues. "We're seeing huge impacts with forces as high as 200G, it's just phenomenal. We have got players on the pitch that are almost like bodybuilders, so the impact that the players are experiencing is just enormous."
Bailey's research focuses on identifying mild traumatic brain injury and its connection to accelerated cognitive decline. He advocates for better regulation of contact in the sport, though he acknowledges removing it completely would be controversial.
The Legal Battle Intensifies
Popham is among 787 claimants from rugby union involved in a lawsuit against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, and the Welsh Rugby Union. The case, managed by law firm Rylands Garth, runs parallel to a similar action brought by former rugby league players against the Rugby Football League.
Upcoming hearings scheduled for March 18 and 19 at London's High Court will see trial judge Justice Lambert presiding. The proceedings have already stretched over five-and-a-half years since initial reports of legal action emerged.
"There is a playbook that the other side have got to play," Popham suggests. "It's deny, deny, delay, deny, kick the can down the road as long as possible." World Rugby firmly denies this characterization of their approach.
Reform Efforts and Resistance
World Rugby maintains that player welfare represents its top priority. Dr. Brett Robinson, chair of the governing body and a former Australia international, points to initiatives like the brain health service launched across multiple countries. "I'm really proud of everything we have done and continue to do," Robinson states.
The organization plans to recommend lowering the permitted tackle height to the sternum in community rugby following extensive trials across 11 unions. This change will also undergo testing at the U20 World Cup in Georgia to assess potential elite-level implications.
Meanwhile, the Rugby Football Union has introduced T1 Rugby, a non-contact version of the sport, following an independent review warning that rugby could become a "declining minority sport" without radical changes in schools.
The Human Cost Beyond the Pitch
The stories emerging from former players paint a troubling picture. "People have died too young because of this," Popham claims. "People are struggling. Families are struggling."
Tragic cases include former Maori All Black Billy Guyton, who took his own life in 2023 and was posthumously diagnosed with stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. His friend and former teammate Shane Christie established a foundation in his memory before dying himself in a suspected suicide last August, having expressed concerns about potentially having CTE.
Cultural Shifts and Ongoing Challenges
Despite progress in some areas, a culture of silence persists around concussion at elite levels. The recent example of Garry Ringrose self-reporting symptoms after being named in a British and Irish Lions starting lineup represents a positive development.
Instrumented mouthguards now provide additional data on impacts, though manufacturers continue working to enhance the technology. Merchant notes that attitudes have evolved significantly since her playing days. "I think if I played nowadays, I'd have retired at 24, rather than 28," she reflects.
Research gaps remain, particularly regarding differences in how brain injuries affect women compared to men. "When the men's game went amateur to professional, there were guys who went from training twice-a-week to suddenly training a lot more," Merchant observes. "The women are going through that now; they need to be protected."
The Future of the Game
Rugby stands at a crossroads, balancing its physical appeal against growing concerns about player safety. The financial implications of a major legal settlement could prove significant for governing bodies already facing substantial legal costs.
Bailey captures the central tension: "You've got audiences that are baying for the gladiatorial big hits. But it is about encouraging activity and social inclusion, and looking after our players so that they have a wonderful three or four decades of life ahead of them."
For Popham, the motivation remains clear despite the challenges. "To me, I look in the mirror and I am doing this for the right reason," he concludes. "This great game can still carry on – we just need to look after our players better."
