‘It’s not for me... This is going to help hundreds of thousands’
“IT’S keeping me… what’s the word I’m looking for…” Alix Popham pauses for a second, struggling for the right word to describe his busy schedule. “Preoccupied,” he settles upon. It’s been nearly three months since Popham went public with his harrowing diagnosis.
In December, the former Wales international and Scarlets player revealed he had, at the age of 40, been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It is ‘probable’ because the diagnosis can be confirmed only by a post-mortem examination.
His brave decision to speak out, alongside fellow former players Steve Thompson, Michael Lipman and Adam Hughes as part of a landmark legal action against some of the sport’s governing bodies, sent shockwaves through rugby.
Since then, Popham’s been a busy man, not only with the legal action, but as part of new lobby group Progressive Rugby and his own charity, Head for Change.
Going into his shell was never going to be the next step for Popham. In that sense, it’s been quite a three months for the 41-year-old.
“People wanted to hear our story and people getting in contact, it was overwhelming,” he added.
“It’s been unbelievably supportive. Love, generosity. People want to support, get involved and help.”
One such message from Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has resulted in Head for Change’s first major fundraising event.
This weekend, Popham will lead a 24-hour cycle challenge on Zwift, an online cycling and running physical training programme which allows users to interact, train and compete in a virtual world.
Taking place over two days, with six two-hour stages each day, the cast list of rugby stars involved is impressive.
Shane Williams, Ryan Jones, Lee Byrne, Ken Owens, Will Greenwood, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Thierry Dusautoir, Ugo Monye, Simon Easterby and Josh Navidi, to name but a few, are all signed up – plus plenty more.
“It’s growing all the time,” says Popham.
“Some boys I haven’t even spoken to. Everything we stand for is to help ex-players cope.”
Around 100 players are currently signed up, with around 3-4,000 fundraisers in total.
It’s a remarkable level of support for the charity’s first major event and indicative of the response Popham has received since he went public.
“I’ve had countless texts from explayers, current players, current internationals and Lions, saying what you’re all doing is amazing and thanking us for speaking out,” he said.
“It’s not for me though, it’s for the future generations and for the game to continue.
“This is going to help hundreds of thousands of people when these changes get put in place.
“Unfortunately, a lot more boys since the diagnosis – around another 150 – have come forward to say they’re in similar positions. That’s just growing every day.
“I’ve spoken to five boys who have tried to commit suicide after being misdiagnosed as being depressed and given anti-depressants and told to go home. They’ve got probable CTE and early-onset dementia.”
It’s a terrifying reality that rugby now finds itself dealing with. The sport is questioning everything it currently does as it faces the consequences of sleepwalking into a problem as big as this.
“We don’t want to change what is on a Saturday, it is a contact sport and there are injuries after all, but let’s control the control-ables and that’s what happens through the week,” he said.
“Small, easy wins like reducing the amount of contact in training like the NFL did 11 years ago.
“I’ve spoken to current internationals who are still doing three contact sessions a week and then playing.”
To participate, people just need to go to the Zwift website and sign up to this open event: https://www.zwift. com/events/tag/rugbyridechallenge
Donations are welcomed by the charity with thanks at www.headforchange.org.uk