Docs find brain injury link to rugby players

Risk rises with each year of their careers

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

SCOTS researchers who discovered a link between heading footballs and brain injuries have identified a similar risk for rugby players. 

And they have called on rugby regulators to take action to reduce exposure to repeated head impacts.

An international study – headed by Professor Willie Stewart, at Glasgow University – identified a link between rugby players’ career length and the risk of the degenerative brain condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).