Latest news with #AlixPopham
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Business Times
Ex-Wales Flanker Popham Wants His Day In Court With Rugby Authorities
Alix Popham, one of hundreds of former rugby players to bring a lawsuit against the sport's authorities for head injuries, told AFP he wants his day in court so he can look in the face some of the officials "who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in." The former Wales flanker, who won 33 caps between 2003 and 2008 and played in two World Cups, was diagnosed in 2020 with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 40. CTE is a progressive brain condition that is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion. The basis of the legal case is that rugby's governing bodies failed to provide sufficient protection from the risks caused by concussion. "The press are talking about 500 players, but I can tell you by the end of May, which is the deadline to join the suit, it will be double that," Popham told AFP in a phone interview. "Everyone is in a different situation. However, I want to go to court and eyeball some of the people still involved in the game, who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in. "Over the past six years what I have read and the evidence we have got needs to be public and go on the record. "It is very powerful." The sport's governing body World Rugby said the ongoing legal action prevented them from engaging with players "concerned in this story." However, in a statement to AFP, they said: "We would want them to know that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare." Popham, who realised something was seriously wrong when in 2019 he got lost on a bike ride close to his home and had to use an app to find his way back, is not just investing his time in the lawsuit. He has also been going to schools and spreading the word about the risks involved. He hopes the Brainsafe programme -- which is the "baby" of Popham, his wife Mel and two others and endorsed by the charity Head for Change -- will be rolled out nationally in September. "We have seen 350 children, coaches and parents since January and are tweaking it now," he said. "It is not all about doom and gloom, it is sports-specific as any child can have brain traumatic injury. "We inform them of the signs and symptoms." Popham, who is in training for an ironman event later this year, said the lack of knowledge about the risks had astonished him. "Around 90 percent of parents, player and coaches still do not understand that every contact is causing damage," said the 45-year-old. "Key rugby schools do but others less so, and some of the parents unfortunately are not interested." Participation in rugby in schools in England is on the decline. In the 2022-23 school year, 8.3 percent of children aged five to 16 played rugby, down from 9.7 percent four years earlier. The decline was highlighted in last October's Review of Rugby in Schools which said the RFU, which commissioned the report, faced "an urgent issue approaching crisis point." As a result the RFU invested GBP5 million ($6.8 million) into TI, a version of touch rugby that replicates scrums, lineouts and other technical aspects of the 15-a-side game. On the other hand there are those who argue that in the contact format it is better that youngsters learn how to tackle aged nine rather than 14 when they are physically bigger. Popham strongly disagrees. He said it was "easy to say about nine-year-olds the younger they learn the technique the better it is," but equated it to encouraging young children to smoke. "It is better to put measures in place to protect them," he said. In terms of warning about the risks, he believes public health advertisements are the way forward. "Like those used in the past to advocate how bad smoking is for your health or how you can save your life by using seat belts," he said. "That is what needs to happen -- to disabuse people of the attitude of 'oh it won't happen to me'." Alix and Mel Popham are taking their Brainsafe programme into schools to warn people about the risks of rugby AFP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ex-Wales flanker Popham wants his day in court with rugby authorities
Former Wales flanker Alix Popham wants to go to court in the legal suit against rugby authorities so he can face those he holds responsible for his brain condition (ADRIAN DENNIS) Alix Popham, one of hundreds of former rugby players to bring a lawsuit against the sport's authorities for head injuries, told AFP he wants his day in court so he can look in the face some of the officials "who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in." The former Wales flanker, who won 33 caps between 2003 and 2008 and played in two World Cups, was diagnosed in 2020 with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 40. Advertisement CTE is a progressive brain condition that is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion. The basis of the legal case is that rugby's governing bodies failed to provide sufficient protection from the risks caused by concussion. "The press are talking about 500 players, but I can tell you by the end of May, which is the deadline to join the suit, it will be double that," Popham told AFP in a phone interview. "Everyone is in a different situation. However, I want to go to court and eyeball some of the people still involved in the game, who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in. Advertisement "Over the past six years what I have read and the evidence we have got needs to be public and go on the record. "It is very powerful." The sport's governing body World Rugby said the ongoing legal action prevented them from engaging with players "concerned in this story." However, in a statement to AFP, they said: "We would want them to know that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare." - 'Measures in place' - Popham, who realised something was seriously wrong when in 2019 he got lost on a bike ride close to his home and had to use an app to find his way back, is not just investing his time in the lawsuit. Advertisement He has also been going to schools and spreading the word about the risks involved. He hopes the Brainsafe programme -- which is the "baby" of Popham, his wife Mel and two others and endorsed by the charity Head for Change -- will be rolled out nationally in September. "We have seen 350 children, coaches and parents since January and are tweaking it now," he said. "It is not all about doom and gloom, it is sports-specific as any child can have brain traumatic injury. "We inform them of the signs and symptoms." Popham, who is in training for an ironman event later this year, said the lack of knowledge about the risks had astonished him. Advertisement "Around 90 percent of parents, player and coaches still do not understand that every contact is causing damage," said the 45-year-old. "Key rugby schools do but others less so, and some of the parents unfortunately are not interested." Participation in rugby in schools in England is on the decline. In the 2022-23 school year, 8.3 percent of children aged five to 16 played rugby, down from 9.7 percent four years earlier. The decline was highlighted in last October's Review of Rugby in Schools which said the RFU, which commissioned the report, faced "an urgent issue approaching crisis point." Advertisement As a result the RFU invested £5 million ($6.8 million) into TI, a version of touch rugby that replicates scrums, lineouts and other technical aspects of the 15-a-side game. On the other hand there are those who argue that in the contact format it is better that youngsters learn how to tackle aged nine rather than 14 when they are physically bigger. Popham strongly disagrees. He said it was "easy to say about nine-year-olds the younger they learn the technique the better it is," but equated it to encouraging young children to smoke. "It is better to put measures in place to protect them," he said. Advertisement In terms of warning about the risks, he believes public health advertisements are the way forward. "Like those used in the past to advocate how bad smoking is for your health or how you can save your life by using seat belts," he said. "That is what needs to happen -- to disabuse people of the attitude of 'oh it won't happen to me'." pi/gj
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Every position affected' says concussion claim data
A total of 40% of a group of claimants in a concussion lawsuit against rugby union authorities played in the back row, according to new data seen by the BBC. In a fresh insight into some of the details of the landmark class action lawsuit, it shows which positions are represented by 176 former players who were either full or youth internationals. There were 70 who played as either a flanker or number eight. And 43 more played in the front row, as either prop or hooker, representing 24% of the group. In all, almost 70% of the claimants played in the pack, although there are also 25 former centres, and every position is represented in the breakdown. More than 40% of the group showed symptoms of neurodegenerative brain disease, according to the data. It indicates that 72 of them have either been diagnosed with dementia, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease, or shown signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The degenerative condition is linked to repeated blows to the head and can only be diagnosed definitively after death. Almost a third of that group of 72 previously played in the back row, while 19 more were in the front row, and 8 others were ex-centres. Two women are also among the full internationals to have shown symptoms of CTE. As part of the litigation, medical assessments have been conducted on the international players by a team of neuro-specialists appointed by the claimants' lawyers. The former players claim the governing bodies were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from serious brain injuries, and should have established and implemented rules on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of actual or suspected concussive injuries. One of the claimants, former Wales international Alix Popham, who played as a back-row forward during a 14-year professional career and was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 40, said: "the stats show that every position on the pitch is taking damage. "The majority from my generation was done in training and this was because there were no real positions in contact situations, it was just a free for all…it was relentless. "I think it would be nice to have more research about positions, but as the data is showing, it doesn't matter what position you play, the damage is showing on the scans and with the symptoms of the players struggling, and that's 1-15." "The British Lions will soon be flying to Australia for a very intense tour. This is where the season needs to be put into a global calendar. A six-month season would be the perfect scenario - like in the NFL - but any reduction on the 11 months that is currently being played is positive." Meanwhile, the defendants in the case - World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union - issued a joint statement to the BBC, saying: "We are saddened to hear about any former player who is struggling in any way. "Whilst ongoing legal action prevents us from engaging with the players concerned in this story, we would want them to know that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare. "Rugby continues to introduce measures at all levels of the game to ensure that it is as safe as possible, including smart mouthguards in the elite game and trials of a lower tackle height in community rugby." There is now thought to be more than 380 claimants from rugby union. The case is attached to a separate lawsuit, involving around 170 former rugby league players. In February, at the High Court, a potential roadmap was set out for the litigation, with 21 claimants from each of the two groups likely to be chosen to come to trial on behalf of the entire group. Richard Boardman of Rylands Garth, the law firm representing the claimants, said: "The rugby cases are - finally - moving ahead at speed now, with two more hearings due by the end of the year. "As the figures show, these former international players are struggling dreadfully with brain injuries because the rugby governing bodies failed to warn them about the dangers of playing a collision sport. It's incredibly sad to see, which is why they should not suffer any further delays to justice." Rylands Garth is awaiting the outcome of a Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation after a former England player alleged he was pressurised into joining its group claim. Former prop Will Green said he was pressured to sign up to the litigation even after a second scan, arranged independently of the legal action, found no signs of brain damage. At the time Rylands Garth said that "the letter of engagement Mr Green had entered into was very clear". Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Alix Popham: 'I can't remember most rugby games I played in'
Former rugby union player Alix Popham has said jerseys and medals are the only reminders he has of playing in big matches he has "no recollection of". The ex-Wales flanker, who had a 14-year professional career, was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of told Newsnight he believed this diagnosis was due to head injuries he had sustained during his rugby career."My neurologist, when he diagnosed me, they worked out I had over 100,000 sub-concussive hits in my brain," he said. Popham described sub-concussive hits as any contact "when your brain rattles around inside against your skull on every hit", including hits to the body as well as to the is one of two former rugby professionals diagnosed with early onset dementia who are calling on the sport's governing bodies to end their legal fight with ex-players in the than 560 former players are suing the sport's governing bodies for the impact of head collisions during their said that he had jerseys on the wall and medals to show from big games, "but memories, vivid memories of the scoreline, the weather, the stadium, I've got no recollection of that".Popham said he could not recall meeting Nelson Mandela before one game in South Africa in 2003 after suffering a traumatic brain injury and ending up in said: "I've got no recollection of being in that stadium or being in that game and, unfortunately, most of my career is the same." 'Two or three week bans really isn't enough' Popham is the founder of the Head for Change charity, whose aim is to support those who suffer from sports-related brain Six Nations tournament returns this weekend and a new 20-minute red card punishment is being trialled during the tournament, where a player is removed from the game but the team returns to its full complement once that period is over. But Dr Willie Stewart, a world-leading expert on brain injury, told Newsnight the new rule "places the spectacle of the game ahead of player's brains".He said he did not think sending a player off for 20 minutes was sufficient punishment for a potentially dangerous tackle which could cause brain damage. Popham called for a six-to-eight week punishment for a red card "so you learn and you don't make that same mistake"."These players are getting two or three week bans which really isn't enough to make them change their habits and, to me, that just shows player welfare isn't their number one priority," he added. Popham, who played in two World Cups for Wales, told Newsnight his initial symptoms of early onset dementia included "losing my temper over, really, nothing" and being unable to recall "important conversations" with his wife shortly after. He also suffered from severe headaches and would lose his train of thought in Popham said she and her husband had to take the difficult decision not to try for a second baby when he received his diagnosis."That was really hard, particularly hard for me, trying to be strong for Al at the time and my stepdaughters and Darcy and the wider family and that was a really difficult personal decision," said Mel. 'It was really frightening' Reflecting on Popham's diagnosis, Mel said: "We had everything going for us. We'd recently got married, had Darcy, living in a house we loved and our world was just changing. "It was really frightening."The couple said they wanted action rather than "empty words" when it came to player on the impact of injuries sustained during his career, Popham said: "I wish I knew then what I know now because when you were seeing stars you wouldn't carry on."You would take yourself off. You would be honest to the coaches, the physios."Former Wales rugby international Ian Buckett died from dementia last year at the age of was found to have had a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which is linked with repeated blows to the head but can only be diagnosed after death. Researchers from a number of academic institutions includes Oxford Brookes University said they had found "conclusive evidence" that repetitive head impacts cause CTE. Former England World Cup winner Chris Simpson-Daniel was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 43 in told Newsnight he had attempted to take his own life on two dad-of-six said he "started falling apart", with bouts of depression and memory loss and "suicidal tendencies that would just whack you out of nowhere". 'Player welfare is our number one priority' World Rugby told the BBC that player welfare was their number one priority, with the 20-minute red card punishment being implemented as a asked anyone with concerns to send them evidence as to why they believe it is not safe.A World Rugby spokesperson said that if the trial were proven to have negative player welfare consequences then they would have no hesitation in halting it and they had done so with other trials in the a joint statement regarding the legal action, World Rugby, the RFU and WRU said: "Whilst ongoing legal actions prevents us from engaging directly, we are always saddened to hear Alix, Mel and Chris's stories. "Player welfare has long been World Rugby's number one priority."It added its medical protocols had always followed scientific consensus. "We are always continuing to evolve and adapt the game, to make it as safe to play as possible," it added.
