Such a moving interview with Stephen Thompson MBE on Good Morning Britain

Steve referring to 11-year-old daughter Seren accompanying him to London to “keep him calm” was 💔

“It’s just weird. I’m supposed to be her dad but she’s looking after me…I just feel a bit of a loser.”😢

Make you seriously question why in 2024 are….

🧠Elite players still returning 7 days after a diagnosed concussion❓

🤕High speed head collisions not resulting in precautionary removal❓

🔄1/10 HIA fails overturned allowing players back on the field❓

2002: NZ Rugby document states: “Repeated concussions may cause permanent damage to the brain.”

2018: Billy Guyton retires after 17 recorded concussions.

2023: Battling mental health issues he dies aged 33.

2024: Stage 2 CTE found in his brain.

#protecttheplayers

We’re all for sanctions for head contact in tackles in a bid to drive behavioural change and make the game safer.

But to suggest that an avoidable but unintentional collision warrants the same as a deliberate swinging arm and headbutt is beyond farcical.

#SuperRugbyPacific

A moving piece from New Zealand.

“He was not an All Black. Instead, he was the quintessential weekend warrior; deeply devoted. The first to shake hands with any opponent and an embodiment of grassroots rugby….CTE is real and the consequences are brutal.”
thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350244…

Come and join the conversation on 22nd April for a conference on Priorities for safeguarding in the UK sports sector with Westminster Media Forum!

Speakers include Bird & Bird @TEAMGB Progressive Rugby and more!

Find out more: westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/Saf…

#WMFEVENTS #sportspolicy

⬇️⬇️⬇️👍🏻

Unhelpful to only see slow motion, and reserving judgement as it’s hard to believe a respected player would be foolish enough (with so many cameras) to do an act so frowned upon.

Gouging not only (rightly) attracts a heavy ban, but is also so damaging to a player’s reputation.

The jackal debate rears its head often.

To remain viable we must protect those skilful (and brave) enough to do it by applying laws as written.

ATM players are sitting ducks offering their head and neck as a target for juggernauts approaching at speed.

Good on you Laurie Dalrymple

Clubs which rotate their players effectively will thrive going forward.

Fresher players, stronger squads, fewer injuries, and mitigating risk to brain health to demonstrate a commitment to their long term wellbeing.

Good on you Laurie Dalrymple

Clubs which rotate their players effectively will thrive going forward.

Fresher players, stronger squads, fewer injuries, and mitigating risk to brain health to demonstrate a commitment to their long term wellbeing.

This is so good to hear.

Thanks Rúaidhrí O'Connor was struggling to find an update.

Worthy of the final.

Unbelievable game 😍

#BORvHAR
#InvestecChampionsCup

Very heartening to see a club with such a prestigious history celebrate Alix for the incredible job he’s doing by lobbying rugby’s governing bodies for off field measures to better protect the short and long term brain health of players.

What an absolutely fabulous contest. A joy to watch ❤️

#SuperRugbyPacific  
#WARvCRU

This is accidental (like 99% of contacts with the head), but it NOT unavoidable.

Too often the 20-minute 🟥 penalises the player not the team, so good to see Moana Pasifika getting over the line.

Although their winning try scorer should have been undergoing a HIA 🙄

Crazy. Deservedly upgraded to 🟥.

#MOAvRED
#SuperRugbyPacific

Very heartening to see a club with such a prestigious history celebrate Alix for the incredible job he’s doing by lobbying rugby’s governing bodies for off field measures to better protect the short and long term brain health of players.

Steps could be taken tomorrow to mitigate risk. Remember that.

“….the age of innocence has passed. Guyton’s death, and subsequent diagnosis of CTE, should be a turning point, and lessons from it used to protect past, present and future players.”

thepost.co.nz/sport/35023849…

“It tore our family to bits”

John Guyton has accused NZ Rugby of ‘hiding in the corner like coward dogs’ over the risk to brain health caused by repetitive brain injury.

His son Billy, a Māori All Black & Auckland Blue, was 33 when he died last year. A post-mortem revealed CTE.