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John Beattie: Dementia research is 'game-changer' for rugby

By John BeattieBBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments190

Scotland's Richie Gray receives treatment

This is going to be my shortest ever blog, and I'd like your comments.

The new research by Dr Willie Stewart, and the pictures that go with it, are in my view a game-changer for rugby.

Summarised: for the very first time his work links early onset dementia to a rugby player after analysis of his brain.

Dr Stewart, a consultant at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, said: "What we are finding now is that it is not just in boxers. We are seeing it in other sports where athletes are exposed to head injury in high levels.

"Those sports include American football, ice hockey and also now I have to say I have seen a case, the same pathology, in somebody whose exposure was rugby."

I feel like shouting hallelujah! I am fed up of watching international players being concussed, knocked out, sent dizzy - whatever you want to call it - and then either jumping back to their feet and playing on or going to the sidelines then wandering back.

It happened in both the Six Nations and the Lions tour; it was wrong.

Players have to understand that you can get a hip replacement, a knee replacement, and even a heart replacement but as yet there is no brain replacement.

I don't want one rugby player to injure his brain to the extent that he or she will be limited later in life.

I feel I got out of the game relatively unscathed. The international rugby I played was probably akin to amateur club rugby nowadays.

The knocks weren't fearsome. I don't remember too many knockouts and my worst episode happened perhaps twice when I lost my sight when back in the clubhouse. I now know this was concussion.

Luckily, I knackered my knee which probably meant my brain was protected.

But when I watch rugby, and the online 'big hits', it's obvious that the hits are harder and the brain trauma is worse than it used to be.

My final thought on this is: every rugby player has it within them to be big enough to get off the pitch if they are dizzy.

The sport should also be self-confident enough to be able to spot when a player has been concussed and get him or her off the pitch.

I'm not sure it's about padded headgear, or changing the laws, or enforcement. It's more about making every rugby player and administrator realise something that most of us actually know; you only get one brain.

These are my views, but what do you think?

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190 comments

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 17:11 3 Aug 2013

    I guess it is not surprising. Bean, you are right about the 3 week ban for schoolboy rugby if you recieve a concussion. It happened to me in 2009 and I couldn't play for 3 weeks. The game needs to develop so there is less emphasis on size. I remember seeing your son, John, lifting weights with the 1st XV at school when he was much younger, 14 or maybe 15. Emphasising size at that age is wrong.

  • Comment posted by User0467681350, at 08:29 4 Aug 2013

    I played union and league, took plenty of knocks, had quite a few concussions, and am absolutely sure my mental faculties (particularly memory) have been adversely affected - although how can you definitely tell?

    And it doesn't have to be actually head knocks that are the problem - a hard tackle will shake the brain inside the skull and this is happening much more in the modern game.

  • Comment posted by User0164146250, at 14:15 5 Aug 2013

    @151.nicktecky
    think you should have thought before posting that remark!

    all sports have progressed to bigger taller stronger and most sports have progressed to a completely different level as a result of training techniques / dietary regimes, psychological and physiological advances that coupled with completely changing the life styles off field of the modern day athletes

  • Comment posted by kapnag, at 16:17 5 Aug 2013

    the thing with head protection is that in American football, helmets are now being used as "weapons" and treated as a license to go in harder with the head

  • Comment posted by Dai Trying, at 09:37 4 Aug 2013

    Fully agree bangs to the head should be treated far more carefully. An example I would like to quote is during the third Lions test George Smith was helped of following a clash of heads, his legs were like rubber they certainly were not supporting him, suggesting to me that the guy was out for the count. However a short while later he was running back onto the pitch. Crazy !!

  • Comment posted by SteveM, at 12:14 4 Aug 2013

    I have to agree, having played to a reasonable level and ref'd at a high level, that the tackling technique of many players has a lot to be desired. The wearing of headgear, does not in my opinion, help in this area. Some treat it as some form of crash helmet - do away with them at all levels which would make individuals more conscious of correct technique. Let the Docs rule on return to the field

  • Comment posted by TheGreatJuan, at 23:28 3 Aug 2013

    Concussions are horrible, i had one while playing under 16's really hurts, but what i dont understand is how they can knock a player out on the pitch and allow him to continue, i wasn't allowed back on the pitch for a minumun of 2 weeks but doctors advised 4-6 weeks.

  • Comment posted by Bean, at 16:52 3 Aug 2013

    Anyone who gets knocked unconscious at junior level is not allowed back on the pitch, and used to not be allowed to play for 3 weekends (this may well have changed). How on earth a player in the six nations is allowed to be knocked out and play on is wrong - both physically and the impression it gives the millions of viewers.

  • Comment posted by User0540304244, at 17:55 4 Aug 2013

    @56 What are the UK anti-doping agency going to do?

    The players visit a quack, get a Therapeutic Use Exemption form and that's it. They can't be touched. Media can't expose it, UKAD can't ban them, lawyers will enforce injunctions. The players dope, the trail goes cold.

    http://www.irbkeeprugbyclean.com/downloads/TUE_Application_EN.pdf


    You think protein shakes make players that big?

  • Comment posted by johnm55, at 17:18 3 Aug 2013

    I agree with Bob, but I don't see any way of putting the genie back in the bottle. When I played 30 years ago most wing-forwards, (my position) including a lot of internationals were about the same size as me 5'11' and 13 stone even if they had twice my skill levels. Someone that size would have difficulty getting a professional berth in any position even at club level today.

  • Comment posted by User0164146250, at 23:25 4 Aug 2013

    @126.pheasantplucker
    70's or current team, don't think it would be a slaughter, oldboys would be far more astute in their knowledge and ability to play smart, they would also slow the game right down and lets face it as far as ball handling goes the welsh team were and I still believe simply perfect. Even though I was 10 I can say to my kids I have seen perfection. And no I'm Irish not welsh!

  • Comment posted by Sense and Reason, at 19:31 5 Aug 2013

    111. Biscuit Boy

    You keep saying they are all taking steroids - where is your proof ?
    Fact is you are wrong and have no proof.

    There is bound to be the one or two oafs in any sport who cheat, just as there are oafs who post things they can't prove.

  • Comment posted by Freenonbrit, at 14:53 3 Aug 2013

    It is true that the medical attention is better than it was 25 years ago, but that is because of the greater likelihood of injury – as John says, the game is played much harder, faster – and, I would say, with more intent to hurt opponents. Players bodies are at least 10% bigger and heavier, but skulls and cranial fluid are just the same, and offer no greater protection to the brain.

  • Comment posted by User0218987769, at 19:11 4 Aug 2013

    Tony and Biscuit boy.

    You call me naive but from your comments I'd have to put that comment back onto you. The advancements in sports nutrition in the last 10 years have been massive. Perhaps you need to clarify your perception on steroids/ supplementation. There are literally 1000's of legal products to help athletes.

    Also, have you seen how much these guys eat?
    to be continued, word limit

  • Comment posted by CorseKen, at 17:56 3 Aug 2013

    Unlike one poster I have no qualms about my 14 year old son continuing to play the sport that he loves and lives for. Technology will continue to improve and protect players from themselves and maybe the assessment of players on the field in the pro game should be made by independent doctors. Lets continue to eliminate unecessary risks from the game balnced with the need to let it still be played.

  • Comment posted by User0218987769, at 15:23 5 Aug 2013

    @ 151nicktecky. Weight limits? Are you serious? What about the 5'4 guy absolutely built or the slim 6'7. Who could potentially hit harder?

    What about rugby being for anyone, tall, short, fat, thin, young old?

    @ FreeSpeech. Boxing is a sport where both fighters sign up an know what they are getting into, they aren't forced. And, statistically less serious injuries in boxing than other sports

  • Comment posted by Malt, at 22:29 3 Aug 2013

    Wouldn't go so far as to say its a game changer, those who play just need to consider it and weigh up the risks. So much of we enjoy in life isn't good for us and you can't go through life and forfeit all of its enjoyments. A long healthy life is only half the story, you are only here once and you also need to find a sense of fulfilment. Maybe this will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment now.

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 13:47 4 Aug 2013

    Storm in teacup or tip of iceberg? Who knows? Top level rugby has become considerably more physical in the past 20 years with anyone wondering about the long term effects being dismissed as soft. Players are much bigger. Impacts much harder. "Big hits" have become part of the game in some quarters.

    That being said, I think we'll see far more players simply unable to walk than brain damaged!

  • Comment posted by User0699128844, at 17:54 4 Aug 2013

    Its important that rugby doesn't make the same mistake boxing did and introduce protective gear. If your skin and bones are protected you will go in harder. If boxers didn't wear gloves they would break their hands if they hit each other as hard as they do now. So the brain would be pared. It's the same principle in rugby - if you are going to break your shoulder you rein it in a bit.

  • Comment posted by User0164146250, at 14:02 5 Aug 2013

    a few years back an American wrestler brought head trauma to the public domain and was shot down by the NFL, WWE, NHL a host of doctors/ experts. Since then all have accepted the reality that ANY contact sport will have to deal with concussions and the longer implications of such. What made this man stand apart was the fact that he was a Harvard graduate, with an BA in sociology, Chris Nowinski

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