29 Jul 2015

Long term impact of rugby on player's brains

From Nine To Noon, 9:35 am on 29 July 2015

A three-year international study shows the long term health impacts of contact sports like rugby. The study was commissioned by the International Rugby Board, and undertaken by Auckland University of Technology. It has found retired rugby players have more arthritis, more cardiovascular issues and more concussions than retired non-contact sports players. The participants also had their brain functions tested and former elite rugby players performed worse in four key cognitive areas. Professor Patria Hume is a sports injury prevention expert at Auckland University of Technology; and Martin Rafferty is the Chief Medical Officer for the IRB.