The Rugby Pro
A Welsh-capped ex-rugby union player, Alix Popham was diagnosed with probable CTE and early-onset dementia at the age of 40. With a group of other ex-professionals, he is filing legal claims against the sport’s governing bodies
When I had the diagnosis, it was terrible news. But, in a funny way, it came as a relief. It gave me answers to why things were happening: losing my temper, not being able to concentrate, forgetting conversations with my wife 20 minutes later.
The scans showed that there were five areas of my brain that were significantly damaged. My neurologist described it as a leaking tap: a tap dripping on mud once or twice would cause no damage. But if it drips for 14 years, as it did in my case, there would be a big hole.
There’s no cure. I’m trying every little thing to try to slow down the symptoms. I gave up alcohol. I’m on a 95% Mediterranean diet. I’ve decided to do an Ironman.
In rugby, it’s all the little contacts. It used to be a game of evasion with contact. Now, it’s a game of contact with some evasion. I love the sport, but it can’t carry on the way it is. There are simple things that World Rugby and the governing bodies can do to make it 85% safer overnight – 85% of my damage was done in contact training.
Ten years ago, the NFL reduced the amount of contact training they do to 16 sessions per season, predominantly pre-season. During the season, there’s not a lot of contact during the week. Now, an NFL player with games has 30 days of contact per year. A rugby union player could be involved in 150.