Former Wales rugby international Alix Popham said governments might have to step in if the game’s governing bodies don’t address concussions. The retired flanker and number eight, who started his professional career with Newport RFC, revealed in 2020 that he’d been diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early onset dementia.
This was due to traumatic brain injuries suffered during his 13-year career, which saw him win 33 caps for his country. Nearly 300 ex-players, including Wales internationals and England World Cup winners, are taking part in a legal action against the international game’s governing body World Rugby, England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) over brain injuries.
Awareness about brain injuries
Popham was one of the first high-profile players to reveal his diagnosis and speak out about its impact. He said making the game safer is the responsibility of governing bodies but, if they fail to do so, action by government could be required. And he stressed the importance of ensuring that players and parents of young players are aware of the risks, and how to respond to concussions.
He said: “I think it could come down to that [political action] if World Rugby doesn’t make the changes that need to be made … I still love rugby, I want it to carry on, but players, mums, and dads need to know the truth. If it doesn’t happen from World Rugby, and doesn’t filter down [to the unions] I think the government will step in, but hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”
Rest for up to four weeks after concussions is important, said Popham, as well as reducing contact such as that in training. While he wouldn’t want parents to be discouraged from allowing children to play the sport, he said the possibility of brain injuries should be “respected”.
He added: “Just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.” The former international, who also played for Llanelli Scarlets, was speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after attending the Welsh Conservatives general election campaign launch in Monmouthshire, where he now lives.
A rarely discussed topic
Welsh secretary David Davies and Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies addressed party members at the event Popham attended with Rynard Landman. Landman enjoyed a professional rugby career in his home country of South Africa before joining Newport-based Dragons in 2014, and has also made his home in Monmouthshire.
Both players said politics is a rarely discussed topic in the changing room, but wanted to show their individual support for the Conservatives. Popham, who confirmed he intends voting Tory in July, said: “I’m living here now with a young family. I want some change for my children for their futures.”
Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock helped Welsh Labour launch its manifesto for the 2005 general election – when Tony Blair won an historic third term for the party – months after leading Wales to a first grand slam in 27 years. He said he’d “always supported Labour”.
Popham joked that he hadn’t won as many caps as he “should have” during the Blaina coach’s tenure, but said he was unaware of his politics. “It’s not chatted about in the changing room.”
Landman, who had just voted in the South African general election, said he wanted to be involved in the “community and a little bit of the politics. And my little one was born in Cardiff, he’s going to grow up Welsh, so I just want a secure future for him education-wise.”
Just be your own person
The former forward has played alongside Ashton Hewitt from Newport. Hewitt has used social media to address issues around racism and encourage social change, but has said a backlash from trolls online had got him down.
Hewitt’s former Dragons teammate Landman said: “If you speak about what you believe in, it just shows your character and the person who you are. Obviously there will be haters, everything you do, there will be haters. Alix had people that didn’t rate him as a rugby player and I’ve had people that didn’t rate me as a rugby player. You get that everywhere and the same comes with politics. Just say what you believe in, stand for it and be yourself, and be your own person.”
Welsh secretary Davies welcomed the support of both Popham and Landman. He said the general election campaign would resemble Wales’ Six Nations game with Scotland this year, when Wales trailed by 20 points at half-time“The last time I saw an international it was Wales v Scotland, and all the action was in the second half, that’s what will happen in this election,” Davies told the event. But he didn’t mention that, despite the second-half comeback, the game still finished in a 26 to 27 defeat.
