On Wednesday, the world rugby body World Rugby announced it was creating a “global education initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of brain health”. This follows several complaints from former players, including two ex-CAB, suffering from neurological conditions.
World Rugby and the International Rugby Players Union to launch “a global education initiative to increase understanding of the importance of brain health”. This is what the governing body of world rugby announced on Wednesday, in the midst of the controversy over the brain health of players and ex-players.
Tips on how to train your brain
According to the press release published by World Rugby, it is “simplify a complex area and increase understanding of brain health” while deepening “knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia, including concussion”. Risks suffered by many players, including two former Brivists Alix Popham and Steve Thompson. The English hooker had told the Guardian about his memory difficulties, declaring to have “no memory of winning the World Cup in 2003 or of being in Australia for the Six Nations tournament”
World Rugby’s initiative also aims to “provide advice on how to train your brain as you prepare for a game to make lifestyle choices that can positively reduce risk.” For the after, it is also about “provide a significant support network for former players “, by offering specialized clinics where former players can obtain expert advice as well as personalized medical follow-up.
This is a first public position after several players, including former All Blacks and Toulon mainstay Carl Hayman, launched legal proceedings against rugby authorities to claim compensation after diagnoses of neurological disorders.