Ward wants answers as concussions end career
LEEDS captain Stevie Ward announced his enforced retirement at the age of 27 yesterday in the latest example of the impact of concussion in elite contact sport.
Ward says he suffers on a daily basis with symptoms caused by two concussions, sustained on January 19 and February 2 last year, and called on rugby league to be more proactive in how it protects players to avoid another generation becoming ‘guinea pigs’ in research.
‘I struggle with migraines, dizziness, motion sickness, sensitivity to light and screens, short-term memory issues, slurred speech, and an inability to exercise or do daily tasks without irritating my symptoms,’ Ward said in a statement.
‘I love the game of rugby league. I am immensely proud to have competed on some of the biggest stages next to childhood heroes and test myself to the absolute limit, while feeling the incredible buzz from the Leeds fans after being one myself as a youngster.’
Ward is not part of the legal action
we can’t rely on another generation of players being guinea pigs for future research
involving former rugby union players who have suffered from the effects of head injuries, but said the issue of concussion within the sport needed greater focus.
He has witnessed the impact motor neurone disease has had on his friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, and says a more proactive approach is needed.
‘With the news about Rob and the current climate of rugby union players, I cannot help but ask the questions that need to be asked,’ added the loose forward, a twotime Grand Final winner with the Rhinos.
‘Of course, more research is needed. However, I believe that there is an element of laziness with just making this statement. It is now time to be asking and answering more specific questions.
‘The biggest question is what can be done to make things safer for our players now. We need to be more proactive and not rely on another generation of players to be guinea pigs for future research that will take years to give us the answers we need now.’