Latest news with #RFU
France 24
4 days ago
- Health
- France 24
Ex-Wales flanker Popham wants his day in court with rugby authorities
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." '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. 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 £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. 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.
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
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
GB sevens programme to be scrapped in July
The Great Britain men and women's full-time sevens programme will be scrapped at the end of will be no more permanent contracts, with players instead coming together to train and play on the World SVNS unions say the decision has been driven by financial pressures and a bid to improve the crossover with the 15-a-side restructuring comes just days after Irish rugby ended its men's sevens programme."The financial structure of the World Series over the past few years has become increasingly challenging and placed strain on the GB7s approach, which we must remodel," Scottish Rugby performance director David Nucifora said."With an increasingly congested sevens calendar and crossover opportunities with the 15s game reducing, we are taking time to review how best the format can work both from a player development and financial perspective," added RFU performance director Conor O' it stands, England has 27 contracted players across the men and women's game, Wales six and Scotland three, although not all are GB sevens teams have competed at three Olympics since the sport was added to the Games in 2016, with the men winning silver in Rio 2016 but failing to qualify for Paris women have yet to win a medal, finishing fourth at Rio and Tokyo."GB7s does not receive central Olympic funding, unlike many other unions it is competing with, and we believe the model the series is run under could be more financially effective for individual unions," added O'Shea."This is something we are continuing to talk to World Rugby about." The RFU has also cited the loss of the London leg of the World Series as another reason for the financial the past decade or so, the men's 7s and 15s forms of the game have been kept separate, with very few players in the UK and Ireland switching between the in the 1990s and 2000s a host of senior England 15-a-side internationals played sevens at the start of their careers, with Ugo Monye and Danny Care telling the Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week it helped them develop as players in the longer form of the there are concerns a part-time programme will mean GB will struggle to compete on the world stage."We believe the camp-based approach we are taking will provide the best development opportunities for players from the men's and women's game given current financial constraints and the congested schedule," added Welsh Rugby Union interim performance director Huw Bevan."We will continue to work with the other unions and World Rugby to explore the on-going role sevens plays within our development pathway."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brown wants to be involved in rugby's future
Decorated former England international Mike Brown says he wants to try to influence the future of rugby union by staying involved in the game after his the 39-year-old Leicester Tigers full-back announced that he would be calling time on his 20-year professional career at the end of the season, he did so by making a plea to powerbrokers at all levels to better "protect and grow" the also called on other figures, including former players and media personalities, to help the asked by BBC Radio Leicester if he would put himself forward to contribute to how rugby union was run, he replied: "I'd love to be involved in discussions if people thought that was of value."Honestly, if there as an opportunity to stay involved at different levels, whether that's with a voice or not, I'd definitely be open to that."I've stayed in the game for this long because I love it. And like I said in the letter that I wrote, I want people to have the opportunities that I've had. But we can't offer that if we don't get it back to where it should be." The financial state of Premiership rugby, following the demise of three top-flight clubs in recent years, and the civil war between English rugby chiefs and grassroots clubs that continues to simmer are among the issues Brown has referred to."What I was referencing in my announcement is making sure that leaders at all levels in our game, be it club owners, PRL [Premiership Rugby Limited] leaders, world rugby leaders, RFU [Rugby Football Union], everyone and anyone that has a leadership position come together and start making decisions for the best of the game," Brown said."Get in a room and start having conversations, communicate, start being innovative, creative and start looking at how we can get our game back to level it should be for what a great game it is." Rugby union has given Brown "so many incredible moments" in a career that saw him earn 72 caps for England and land two Premiership titles and a European Challenge Cup with 280 Premiership games, amassed over 16 years with Quins before going on to play for Newcastle Falcons and seeing out his career with Tigers, has him fourth on the list of most appearances in the all he has done, and games and trophies won, there is one moment above all else that he holds dear."For me, a moment that will always stand out was my 300th game for Harlequins when running out with my son," he said."To do that is always going to live in the memory. To run out with him, and I guess allow him to experience what I've been lucky enough to experience so many times was special." That milestone game was in 2018 when Brown was remained with Harlequins until 2021, from which point he was determined to show that he still had more to offer as a had a solitary season with Newcastle, then spent 10 months without a club before he was handed a surprise career lifeline by Tigers in January try that he scored on his Leicester debut came with the message that age was no started a short-term injury cover for the Six Nations has turned into more than two years at Mattioli Woods on Welford Road."At 36 people would have thought I'm done, on the scrapheap, what can he offer? I guess in a way I proved to people that no matter what age, you have a bit to offer," he said."I knew I was still able to contribute, I felt good physically and mentally, I was still motivated and energised by rugby."And while Brown says he is "in a lucky place" where he has not "physically broken down" as he approaches his 40th birthday, he says enough has changed to know it is the right time to two-and-a-half-hour commute from his home in Surrey to get to Leicester and the mental demands of being an elite sportsperson are what prompted the decision at the end of a campaign in which he has made just five appearance."It's the mental grind of doing the right things day in and day out," Brown said."I didn't want to be that player and I can't be that player or person that just grinds though taking a pay check and is happy to be tuning up for some training."It was becoming very tough over the last few months to keep doing that."
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
British And Irish Lions Prop Ellis Genge Is Ready For Business
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Ellis Genge of England runs with the ball during the Summer ... More International match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium on August 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images) On May 8, England international Ellis Genge achieved a dream. The Bristol Bears loose-head prop earned his first selection for the famed British and Irish Lions team. He will be part of the 38-man squad touring Australia this summer. Despite 71 caps and two Rugby World Cup (2019 and 2023) appearances for England, Genge is one of 26 newcomers to the British and Irish Lions squad. Off the field, Genge is fulfilling another dream: founding businesses that provide services in his community and prepare him for life after rugby. In the coming months, Genge will be opening a coffee shop, 129, in Tickenham on the outskirts of Bristol. Genge enjoys a coffee, but unlike some of his England teammates, he is not an expert barista, although he says he does 'try his hand at coffee' when he's away with the national team. The café will serve customers making the commute into or out of Bristol. It will sit next to the local driving range, and once the shop is up and running, Genge plans to build a pilates studio in the same building, offering exercise and drinks to a wider clientele. Genge was born in Bristol in the 90s. After a brief stint with the Leicester Tigers, which included a Gallagher Premiership title, he returned to Bristol in 2022. The son of a plumber and a secretary, he grew up on the Knowle West Council Estate, a working-class part of town with drugs and violence, but a strong community feeling. Genge credits his neighborhood for his work ethic, saying that he realized early on 'hard work is your currency.' That work ethic has transformed into an entrepreneurial spirit in recent years: Genge has opened a gym and a groundwork company in Bristol, and now his coffee shop is on the way. Ellis Genge and friend Jed Fields co-founded PAving Fields to provide essential services to the ... More Bristol community. Knowle West's proclivity for drugs and violence put a young Genge in stressful situations. Over time, that stress led to a buildup of aggression, which Genge admits he struggled to suppress at times. At age twelve, Genge began playing rugby and found an outlet for his aggression. It greatly influenced his playing style, making him into a strong and willing ball carrier and punishing tackler. His aggression and work ethic have made him one of the best props in the world and earned him a spot in the 2022 World Rugby Team of the Year. Since 2020, Genge has been putting that same energy into his businesses, which he says help take his mind off of rugby. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Genge had several conversations with professional development officers at Leicester Tigers, his club at the time. He says they were always pushing players to develop skills beyond rugby, largely because rugby players do not get paid similarly to NBA, NFL, or professional soccer players. Following those conversations, he decided to set up Syncollective, a new gym focused on community and created for people who don't fit in. To outsiders, the gym may have seemed like a distraction, but Genge calls himself ' a punchy character who likes to take risks.' He was undaunted by managing a business while playing professional rugby. So much so that a few years later, once the gym was up and running comfortably, Genge opened a second business called Paving Fields. The professional groundwork and paving company is headquartered in Bristol and provides highway maintenance, small and medium-sized vehicle projects, residential paving, and drainage across southwest England. Genge co-founded it with his lifelong friend Jed Fields, who spent the previous twelve years of his life mastering the craft. As in rugby, Genge isn't satisfied with a role on the sidelines. The England prop wants to be hands-on and is about to embark on his digger's license, which will train him to properly operate excavation equipment. In his words, he doesn't 'just want to collect dust' after his playing days are over. Ieuan Evans, Chair and Tour Manager of the British & Irish Lions, unveils Ellis Genge as a squad ... More member during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement in the AmEx Lounge at The O2, London. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images) Aside from three businesses and a professional rugby career, Genge has found time to do a property management course (during the Autumn Nations Series), play snooker twice a week, and learn golf. He admits getting into the latter because it is where business occurs. Genge is also a father of three, which he credits for making him more patient and giving him more self-confidence, and a strong community advocate, running a charity called the Genge Fund that gives underprivileged children access to sports and education. Genge has a full plate, but he would be the first to note that his family plays a key role in helping him achieve his goals. As a child, Genge says his mother was 'a beacon of safety' and someone he could seek advice from. Now, his wife, Meg, looks after their kids and finds ways to give Ellis space to develop professionally. It also helps that Genge is 'a bit of a glorified insomniac.' He thrives on 5 or 6 hours of sleep and is a curious person, always trying to learn new skills. At age 30, Genge is still at the peak of his rugby powers. He is going on his first Lions tour this summer, and if all goes well, he will likely be playing in Australia again in two years at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ahead of the Lions squad announcement, he said, 'I would be lying if I said it wasn't on my mind,' but added that while he was 'nervous as ever,' rugby doesn't define him. With three businesses, a foundation, and a growing family, Ellis Genge is much more than a loosehead prop. He's an amazing rugby player who is as dominating off the field as he is on it.
