In December 2020 came news that sent shockwaves through the rugby community, that nine retired rugby professionals had been diagnosed with onset early dementia. Then began a legal battle against World Rugby for alleged negligence having suffered multiple head injuries during their career.
Two months later Josh Navidi, James Haskell and dual-code legend Jonathan Davies are among those who have signed the open letter to World Rugby, for more to be done to inform parents about the risks involved with repetitive head knocks.
James Haskell is among the founders of Progressive Rugby, who strive for radical reforms for player safety and to tackle the issues of serious head and brain injury. While Josh Navidi has just made his return to rugby following months out injured after sustaining a concussion in training.
One of those nine diagnosed with early onset dementia was Wales back rower Alix Popham. Popham has been given this news at just 40 years of age, not only has he been diagnosed with dementia but also ‘probable’ chronic traumatic encephalopathy, probable as the condition can only be confirmed during a post-mortem.
The retired Wales international told The Guardian that, “We knew our bodies would be in bits. We had no clue our brains were.”
Popham has no recollection of his last test match for Wales against England in 2008, and relies on stories he’s been told and old clips.
