Progressive Rugby

A player welfare group comprising expert medics, elite players, academics and coaches passionate about protecting rugby’s long-term future 🏉

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

“Speak your truth quietly and clearly and respectfully, and let people know you are not against rugby, you just want to improve the quality of life for your fellow human beings. That is what this is all about.”

Dr Bennet Omalu to Progressive Rugby - March 2021

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

Absolutely horrific news from France. Just tragic

https://t.co/38N9pMXSUh

[Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. @ChrisNowinski1]

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 @ProgressiveRug]

@mulcs85 @DavidWalshST He must have passed HIAs 2 and 3, but with his history, that’s concerning.
This is why the protocol desperately needs to be strengthened and then properly enforced, with penalties for sides who fail to do so.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

Article by the excellent @DavidWalshST on player welfare and that match in Perth

https://t.co/l99D4w5YES

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@mulcs85 @AllBlacks @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @Head4Change We don’t think that the protocol is anywhere near sufficient but it’s what there is in place. That it isn’t followed to the letter is of serious concern. Either follow it or rewrite it.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

We need more of this - the primary responsibility of all referees is player safety.

[John Mulcahy @mulcs85]

Excellent referring by Craig Evans at the w/e when insisting on confirmation from medics that Gavin Coombes didn't need a HIA - I thought he did, but Craig did what he could - More refs should do the same @worldrugby @ProgressiveRug @Head4Change @dominicrumbles @PremSportsTV

[John Mulcahy @mulcs85]

@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 @ProgressiveRug]

@Scienceofsport @mulcs85 @EnglandRugby @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @Head4Change I think we all just have to keep calling it out when we see it, but reading about a disciplinary panel commenting on it and an independent match day doctor being overruled makes me question if we have made any progress at all (I know we have but still …)

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@Scienceofsport @mulcs85 @EnglandRugby @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @Head4Change It is incredibly frustrating that despite what you and @WorldRugby have been saying, people who should know better aren’t listening. I understand the psychology of wanting a magic solution, and perhaps the use of IMGs will lead us to one, but they aren’t it.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@mulcs85 @EnglandRugby @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @Head4Change @Scienceofsport I am also very keen to know how the on-field assessment was conducted - the need for any assessment strongly suggests that a proper HIA should have taken place. It’s also not a good look that the independent match day doctor was effectively overruled.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@mulcs85 @EnglandRugby @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles @Head4Change @Scienceofsport The mouthguards purpose is primarily data collection - the standardised threshold is set so high that they should never be used for independent corroboration. That comment in itself is concerning and highlights a required education piece.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@CliveBowman554 @tomrock84 @Tommo33s @WorldRugby @RFU @WillStewNeuro @AndrewW93733842 @AlixPopham @RhonddaBryant @ChrisNowinski1 @peterrobinson86 I think it may be contact sports rather than rugby union specifically - AFL and rugby league for example.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

Desperately, desperately sad news

[ABC SPORT @abcsport]

Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, who defied cystic fibrosis to play international rugby, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

The 37-year-old, who played four Test matches for Australia in 2014, publicly announced his diagnosis during an interview with Stan Sport.

Read more: https://t.co/MyA1azNvTK

Keep up with all the latest sport news and analysis on ABC listen: https://t.co/UUIIDPDjKJ

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@VagueRegions @mulcs85 @simonrug @WalesRugby @scarlets_rugby @Head4Change @WorldRugby That’s the crux of the point - and given the media attention, I’m not sure good faith comes into it but the clubs have no option. They’re not going to potentially put themselves at a competitive disadvantage. Which is a really horrid position for them and I truly feel for them.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@VagueRegions @mulcs85 @simonrug @WalesRugby @scarlets_rugby @Head4Change @WorldRugby And yes, we are campaigning for that; having a lot of conversations; a lot of education pieces and trying very hard to get the powers that be to listen and act.

[Progressive Rugby @ProgressiveRug]

@VagueRegions @mulcs85 @simonrug @WalesRugby @scarlets_rugby @Head4Change @WorldRugby But symptomless doesn’t mean recovered, and recovery isn’t linear. Hence the protocols have to be strengthened so that the clubs aren’t conflicted and the players are given as much protection as possible.