Alix Popham Expresses Anger Over Rugby's Handling of Brain Injuries

Former Wales rugby international Alix Popham has expressed deep anger and frustration over the ongoing issues surrounding brain injuries in the sport. Six years after he first spoke out, Popham feels the sport is still 'stuck on a hamster wheel' while players suffer from neurodegenerative diseases.

Popham, who revealed his own struggles with neurodegenerative disease in April 2020, alongside former England player Steve Thompson, stated he is "f****** angry" about the lack of progress. He is involved in a legal fight concerning the sport's handling of head injuries. "I'm not trying to ruin the sport," Popham insisted, emphasizing his desire for meaningful change to protect current and future players. "I think of my brain like a kettle and I never allow it to boil over. It's not normal."

Popham is frustrated that in the six years since he and Thompson raised their concerns, rugby's safety protocols have not significantly improved. He pointed to guidelines on playing numbers being insufficient if they are not adhered to. "They’ve put in guidelines for the number of games players should play. But guys like Maro Itoje have gone over them. What's the point in those guidelines if they’re broken?" he questioned.

The former Scarlets, Newport, and Wales back-rower highlighted the emotional toll these conditions take. "I don't think people appreciate the ripple effect that comes when you’re suffering with these issues," Popham said. "It’s a rollercoaster of emotions."

Steve Thompson, a World Cup winner with England in 2003, has also been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The legal action initiated by Popham and Thompson has brought wider attention to the long-term effects of repeated head impacts in rugby.