World Rugby addresses brain disease link - says beer is BAD
Powerful education tool or cynical deflection - you decide. PLUS: The Week That Was and The Weekend That Will Be.
Carl Hayman’s revelation about being diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE must have spooked World Rugby. How else do you explain the decision to rush a video into production that is called “Staying on top of your game: Rugby and brain health”, but what should really be called is “Rugby and brain health: How to gaslight players.”
I’m not going to dive too deeply into it here because my thoughts on the subject have been articulated succinctly by others, such as concussion expert Doug King.
There’s a strange little case of omission at work here, too. While Dr Willie Stewart - who has done strong work in this space over a long period of time - talks (very briefly) about CTE in the video, there is no mention of it in the accompanying release that takes pride of place on the World Rugby website.
And here’s the thing that nobody in this video mentions: of the 12 factors that can impact brain health, there is only ONE that is a common factor in CTE cases - repetitive head trauma.
That’s it. Right there. That’s not all you need to know, but it’s the most important singular piece of information you need to take with you and work down from there.
To my knowledge, nobody has tried to claim that head injuries are the only cause of dementia, an umbrella term that captures a number of nasty brain diseases from Alzheimer’s to frontal lobe dementia, to Lewy body, to Parkinson’s dementia to CTE.
Are rugby authorities now using the broad umbrella term to avoid answering questions specifically on CTE, which as yet can only be properly diagnosed in post mortem?
Don’t get me wrong, brain health is vital. Steps taken to improve it are to be applauded but only if they come with the acknowledgment of what the most pertinent issues are with regards to the athletes who play rugby (and sports in general).
There is no weighting given to the 12 factors; no acknowledgement of what might be a cause and what might be a co-factor. This deliberately minimises the potential contribution of the cause of the brain injury (and all cynicism aside, that simply has to be by design).
Is WR arguing that there are so many factors that affect brain health that they can’t be held accountable for head impacts in sport contributing to dementia? Is it trying to educate people so they can make informed decisions, thus minimising their legal liability?
The landmark ruling that former England footballer Dave Watson’s brain injuries he suffered during his career are to be classified “industrial accidents” could have massive implications for rugby. Is this all related?
Let’s be brass tacks about this: In a world-class rugby player, what’s more likely to be the initial cause of a brain disease that in death is proved to be CTE, a brain injury or smoking?
I chose that comparison deliberately, because World Rugby’s approach to brain disease is starting to be likened to that of Big Tobacco and lung cancer. This is not something they should embrace.
If World Rugby really wanted to show players that it cares it would fund studies aimed at diagnosing and treating CTE. That’s what they’d do. What they wouldn’t do is start a campaign to raise awareness of causes of dementia that aren’t connected to repetitive head injuries to try to deter players from signing up for the lawsuit.
Or as the Guardian’s Michael Aylwin puts it rather punchily, they wouldn’t try to insult players with such cynical deflection.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
#WHEREISPENGSHUAI
What a strange, potentially disturbing story this one is. Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has been unreachable for two weeks since revealing an alleged sexual assault by a powerful Chinese politician.
Concern was only heightened after an email purportedly written by Peng was released on Chinese state media.
“Hello everyone this is Peng Shuai. Regarding the recent news released on the official website of the WTA, the content has not been confirmed or verified by myself and it was released without my consent.
“The news in that release, including the allegation of sexual assault, is not true. I’m not missing, nor am I unsafe. I’ve just been resting at home and everything is fine. Thank you again for caring about me.”
They might as well have released a giant red flag. Nobody outside of China believes that it was written by Peng. The WTA Tour has threatened to remove events from China unless it receives appropriate evidence that Peng is safe and able to tell her story without censorship.
The New York Times (metered $) has the most comprehensive wrap of where we’re at.
RACISM ROW - THE BLOODLETTING PHASE
It was always going to get to this point, unfortunately.
Despite the Azeem Rafiq testimony in front of a parliamentary hearing providing the perfect platform to challenge prejudices and what the former Yorkshire CCC chairman Roger Hutton described as “institutional racism” within his club, we first have to pick through the bones of every racist or bigoted thing someone might have once said. It’s so much easier to create headlines that way rather than tackling the underlying issue.
It’s how the cycle works.
The twist in this cycle, the stick in the spokes if you will, is that Rafiq has been found to have made anti-semitic comments, something he has admitted to, offered no excuse for and apologised unreservedly.
“I can’t defend the indefensible,” he said.
It is a line Yorkshire and the England and Wales Cricket Board would have done well to use right from the start.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Was quite taken by this story about Dani Laidley making her first appearance back at North Melbourne Kangaroos, who announced they were debt free for the first time since 1987.
A playing legend at the club and a coach from 2003-2009, the former Dean Laidley began gender transition in late 2019.
THE (VERY FOOTY) WEEKEND THAT WILL BE
The All Blacks capitulation in the face of Irish fire and fury (and no shortage of skill) had added frisson to this, their final encounter of 2021. New Zealand has not lost three tests in a year since 2009, a staggering level of excellence but that creates the sort of pressure not found in other countries. This is a big test for Sam Cane, brought in to replace the impressive Dalton Papalii. It’s a big test for Richie Mo'unga, who gets the chance to impress without the spectre of Beauden Barrett on the bench or at fullback.
It’s a big test for George Bridge, who has struggled badly of late (as did the man he replaces, Sevu Reece, last week). It’s a big test for Quinn Tupaea, handed the nettlesome No12 jersey. It’s a test Aaron Smith shouldn’t have needed at all - but here we are. It’s a big test for France, who cannot beat the All Blacks these days and who haven’t won against them in Paris for 48 years, back when Alain Estève, the notorious Beast of Béziers, was locking the scrum. Yep, BIG TEST.
France v All Blacks, Paris, Sunday 9am, Sky Sport 1
The Black Ferns also complete their northern tour in France, hoping to get off the schneid following three thumping losses to England (twice) and France. The camp has remained confident they can catch up with the best in the north in time for next year’s World Cup, Castres would be a good place to start demonstrating that.
France v Black Ferns, Castres, Sunday 3am, Sky Sport 1
Go on, make a footy night of it. The most anticipated match of the month is the replay of the World Cup final and a kind of Lions tour redux (even if that’s insulting to Wales, Ireland and Scotland). There will be blood. You might have to toggle between the Sky 1 and 2 for the first half (or you know, record it). Straight after it’s Wayne Pivac v Dave Rennie - sorry, Wales v Australia.
England v South Africa, Twickenham, Sunday 4am, Sky Sport 2
Wales v Australia, Cardiff, Sunday 6.15am, Sky Sport 2
I haven’t done a lot of pointing to the Bunnings Cup because it’s a shambles this season for obvious reasons. I could care less about the Premiership final - sorry Tasman, sorry Waikato - but I am intrigued by whether my, yes my, amber-and-blacks can beat Otago for an unbeaten yet ultimately inconsequential season.
Taranaki v Otago, Inglemud, Saturday 2.05pm, Sky Sport 1
A reader got in touch this week. She laments the lack of basketball coverage in New Zealand media and I pointed out that from my cursory observation of the analytics when I lived a more mainstream life, while anything Steven Adams related went well, the NBL rated very poorly. Quite accurately, Sally described it sadly as the “why watch the Breakers when you have the Lakers?” phenomenon. I have to confess to applying that same logic to football and the A-League. A big part of me knows I should pay it more heed, but I’m in the school of “Why the Phoenix when you have the (damn, no EPL club rhymes with Phoenix)?” Still, I must try harder, starting with this Sunday as the Phoenix take on a club I confess I never knew existed!
Macarthur FC v Wellington, Campbelltown, Sunday 8.05pm, Sky Sport 1
This, however, is a game my son will need no convincing to watch. A lot going on Sunday morning, but I might flag Wales-Australia and join him.
Liverpool v Arsenal, Anfield, Sunday 6.30am, Spark Sport
Irrelevant series, terrible time of night. Experimental lineups. Still, I'll probably try to watch it. Cricket tragics unite!
India v NZ, 2nd T20I, Ranchi, tomorrow 2.30am, Sky Sport 1
This F1 season will go down as one of the unforgettable ones. Mercedes and Red Bull look at the brink of going to war off the track. On the track, Lewis Hamilton might just catch Max Verstappen; Verstappen might try to run him off the road again. The races are coming thick and fast as the rivalry continues in Qatar.
Qatar GP, Losail, Monday 3am, Spark Sport
