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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

The big rugby names who have revealed shocking news about early onset dementia

Former Wales international Dafydd James became the latest ex-player to join the legal action against rugby's governing bodies over brain injuries.

The 47-year-old, who won 48 caps for Wales, has revealed he has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The former Scarlets, Pontypridd and Bridgend wing will now form part of the action against World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Rugby Football Union - with 260 rugby union players having now issued proceedings.

The vast majority of those players have understandably not gone public with their diagnoses, but there has been a steady number of players talking openly about the battle they face.

One of the first was Alix Popham, with the former Wales No. 8 first revealing his diagnosis in December 2020, when the pre-action phase against the three governing bodies was just beginning. Since then, he's frequently been vocal about improving the safety of the sport.

Another of the first group to go public was England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson. Just last month, the former hooker revealed he had been put on suicide watch.

Former Bath and England back-row Michael Lipman was another of the first group. Last year, he admitted that he wouldn't have played rugby had he known he would have early onset dementia and probable CTE during his retirement.

Towards the end of December 2020, one-time England U21 back-row Neil Spence was one of two players to go public with his diagnosis.

The other was former Dragons centre Adam Hughes. Only 30 at the time, he was diagnosed with brain injuries and post-concussion symptoms, but was warned he was on the same trajectory as the others.

In March 2021, two-cap England international Dan Scarbrough became the sixth player to publicly confirm he had joined the lawsuit, confirming he had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, early onset dementia and probable CTE.

In July 2021, former Wales international Lenny Woodard came forward with his own diagnosis. Woodward, who won caps for his country in both rugby union and league, revealed recently that he expects to need full-time care in the next decade.

In the same month, former England International Jason Hobson and retired Exeter Chiefs hooker Neil Clarke joined the action - becoming the eighth and ninth players to confirm their diagnoses publicly.

Then in November 2021, former All Black prop Carl Hayman joined the legal action. Last year, the 45-cap New Zealand international's partner described how he now asks her: "What’s the point in living?"

Former Wales captain Ryan Jones came forward in July 2022 with his own diagnosis. Speaking at the time, Jones admitted that his "world was falling apart".

At the same time, 169 professional rugby union players issued proceedings against the three governing bodies. Then in March of this year, 54 amateur players issued proceedings.

As things stand, a total of 260 players will have issued proceedings.

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