A player welfare group comprising expert medics, elite players, academics and coaches passionate about protecting rugby’s long-term future 🏉
Joined February 2021
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Progressive Rugby retweeted
@ProgressiveRug @Head4Change @DavidWalshST Six players in the NZ squad announced today have recently been out with concussion. Their publicly reported histories include repeated episodes and, for Aumua, months of headaches. No suggestion of mishandling or protocol breaches.
Progressive Rugby retweeted
The relationship between contact sports and CTE is a lot like smoking and lung cancer: the more exposure, the greater the risk. In science, that’s called a dose-response relationship.
Recent research found that NFL players with long careers face a 4x higher risk of developing dementia. What makes this finding especially striking is the magnitude of the association compared with other recognized risk factors, including lead exposure and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
As the science advances, one message is clear: exposure matters. Understanding the long-term risks of repetitive head impacts is critical to protecting athletes at every level.
Progressive Rugby retweeted
@WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @ProgressiveRug @Head4Change @Scienceofsport Two players played yesterday 2 weeks after reportedly being concussed - I assume previous history would have been considered but it doesn't seem to have resulted in a longer stand-down - Player Welfare?
Progressive Rugby retweeted
@WorldRugby @worldrugbymedia @dominicrumbles
@ProgressiveRug @Head4Change @GILBERT_RUGBY
I thought asking whether Junior Headguards not explicitly listed on the World Rugby register were tested could be easily answered - e.g. Based on the register and the Gilbert site - Yes/No?
Progressive Rugby retweeted
Please watch, this promises to be another moving account of yet another player diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE 🏉🧠💔😢 not the only one who reached out to @AlixPopham when he went public on his diagnosis 🫶🙏
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00315q…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
PLEASE READ AND SHARE 😔😢😡🙏❤️🏉🧠 @WorldRugby @WelshRugbyUnion @EnglandRugby @theRPA @IntRugbyPlayers @Scienceofsport
@melliebrampops @ProgressiveRug @Tommo33s @Phil_Vickery @ChrisNowinski1 @AndrewW93733842 @peterrobinson86 @bencoles_ @danwootton @nicksjj @sharrond62
Progressive Rugby retweeted
@WorldRugby this was always your plan…….. Delay becomes a weapon, cost becomes a punishment, and process becomes the means of attrition. Exhaust them financially, emotionally and physically until surrender is cheaper than justice. 🙏❤️🏉🧠💪
news.sky.com/story/hundreds-…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
👀👀👀👀👀👀
MPs to call for concussion inquiry - ESPN espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
If you are a player, ex-player or family member of someone affected: support is available at @Head4Change
These articles contain mentions of suicide and support can be found at Samaritans.org
Progressive Rugby retweeted
An @ObserverUK special report: CTE in sport
If you haven’t already read @Phil_Vickery’s powerful interview by @bencoles_, it is a must read. It is part of a three-part series, including an investigation into the man who “poisoned the well” of CTE research.
Links below ⬇️
Progressive Rugby retweeted
Exclusive interview with Phil Vickery in today's @ObserverUK and online.
An emotional insight into life with probable CTE, friendship, and his unwavering love for rugby.
Excellent photos by @harrybordenuk.
Read here: observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
England World Cup hero Nobby Stiles died from traumatic brain injury dailymail.com/sport/football…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
Re Concussion/Brain Injury
“If In Doubt, Sit Them Out”
not test-clear-return to play after showing clear signs and symptoms of Concussion/Brain Injury.
They are kids for god sake - no kids life is worth a game.
Without your brain there is no game 👍💯🧠💯🏉🧠⚽️
Progressive Rugby retweeted
Ruben Love yellow carded two minutes into his first start at number 10 for the All Blacks.
Bunker review to come... #NZLvFRA
Progressive Rugby retweeted
My heart breaks for former NFL star Chris Johnson, who has been diagnosed with ALS/MND at 39.
Surprised there is no mention of NFL players having 4x the risk of ALS than the population & that it appears related to repetitive head impacts & #CTE. More: neurologytoday.aan.com/doi/1…
Progressive Rugby retweeted
We are looking to speak with former athletes, or individuals with a history of sport participation, who are living with young onset dementia.
If you are interested in taking part, or know anybody that might be, please message on here or email me at: [email protected]
Progressive Rugby retweeted
We would completely agree that news outlets need to give a voice to the independent researchers and their work.
Progressive Rugby retweeted
An excellent blog post explaining the legal defences that big sports utilise in minimising the harm of brain injury in their sports. Well done @weirdnotwild
After The Final Whistle: CTE and the Law
“So you watch these men play and you cheer and you love them and you know that some percentage of them are already living inside a timeline that ends short.”
puckitweball.blog/2026/05/28…
