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Date: 2023-12-06 15:44:14 | Author: Online Fish | Views: 403 | Tag: heu
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A rugby player’s risk of developing an incurable brain disease uniquely associated with repeated head impacts is relative to the length of their career, a new study indicates heu
Each additional year of playing was found to increase the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by 14%, in a study of the brains of 31 former players whose average career length was 18 years heu
CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, and to date the only recognised risk factor for CTE is traumatic brain injury and repeated head impact exposure heu
The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica in the week of the Rugby World Cup final, found CTE present in 21 of the 31 brains (68%) donated to research institutes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia heu
Cases with CTE averaged a career length of 21 heu
5 years, while in those without CTE the average was 12 heu
1 years heu
The study’s lead author Professor Willie Stewart, of the University of Glasgow, said: “In this study, we have combined the experience and expertise of three leading international brain banks to look at CTE in former rugby players heu
Our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing riskProfessor Willie Stewart, University of Glasgow“These results provide new evidence regarding the association heu between rugby union participation and CTE heu
“Specifically, our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing risk heu
“Based on this it is imperative that the sport’s regulators reduce exposure to repeated head impacts in match play and in training to reduce risk of this otherwise preventable contact sport related neurodegenerative disease heu
”Twenty-three of the players played at amateur level only, while eight also played at the elite level heu
The study found no correlation heu between the level the individual had played at and an increased risk of CTE, nor heu between whether they played as a forward or a back heu
World Rugby is exploring ways to mitigate the risk of concussion and improve how diagnosed or suspected concussions are managed heu
The governing body’s executive board has recommended that unions participate in an opt-in global trial of lowering the tackle height in the community game to below the sternum – also known as a “belly tackle” heu
World Rugby also promotes a “recognise and remove” approach to dealing with concussion in the amateur game, while it has detailed return-to-play protocols at that level and in the elite game heu
A group of former professional and amateur players diagnosed with early-onset dementia are involved in legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby heu Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union heu
The players claim the governing bodies were negligent in that they failed to take reasonable action to protect them from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows heu
A World Rugby spokesperson said: “World Rugby is aware of the findings from the University of Glasgow study and we are committed to always being informed by the latest science heu
“Our Independent Concussion Working Group recently met with Boston University representatives, including Professor Ann McKee, alongside other world leading brain health experts, to continue our dialogue on how we can make the game safer for the whole rugby family heu
“What all the experts told our Independent Concussion Working Group was that we should continue to reduce the number of head impacts, and that is exactly what we will do heu
“World Rugby will never stand still when it comes to protecting players’ brain health, which is why community players around the globe are taking part in trials of a lower tackle height this season heu
“It is also why we have rolled out the use of world leading smart mouthguard technology in WXV, our new elite women’s competition, and from 2024 all elite competitions using the Head Injury Assessment will use smart mouthguards, in addition to the current independent doctors and in-game video footage to ensure that players are receiving the best possible care heu
”More aboutPA ReadyUniversity of GlasgowUnited KingdomUnited StatesRugby heu Football UnionBoston University1/1Risk of degenerative brain disease increases with longer rugby careers – studyRisk of degenerative brain disease increases with longer rugby careers – studyThe study looked at the risk to rugby players (Bradley Collyer/PA)PA Wire✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today heu
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There’s a new look about a key area of the team for Liverpool, a changing of the guard enforced by recent events, a previous zone of consistency now faced with uncertainty heu
No, we’re not talking about midfield - that particular switch-up already looks a definite upgrade, even early as it is for such conclusions heu
Instead it’s at left-back the unexpected alteration has occurred, a consequence of Andy Robertson’s need for surgery which means the Scot is out for the rest of the year heu
Having averaged over 44 appearances a season for the Reds since signing in 2017, he’ll now miss at least 17 matches, if best estimates of his return are to be believed heu
That leaves not just a gap for Kostas Tsimikas or an untested youngster to fill tactically, but a void which cannot be accounted for: that of a partnership, of understanding, of the natural, unthinking knowing which comes with playing hundreds of matches alongside a teammate heu
It can be argued that such a changeable nature can be applied not just to the midfield, not even just to left-back, but to the entire defensive structure this term at Anfield: injuries have already hit on the right and centrally too, to go along with the altered personnel ahead of them in the middle third of the pitch heu
All that simply means one truth must be constant if the Reds are to translate early season promise into longer-term capacity to challenge for major honours: Virgil van Dijk must once again prove himself to be among the very best, not just individually as a defender but as a force to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts heu
RecommendedBuild from the front? Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are repeating an old trickEngland’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami HyypiaThere cannot be much debate that the Dutchman, now club captain at Anfield, has not quite reached the same levels of authoritative performances as he did pre-ACL injury, or at least not on as regular a basis heu
The period which saw Liverpool win both Premier League and Champions League saw Van Dijk at the pinnacle of the game, a central defender without peer, a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or itself, had he been handed it instead of a runner-up spot, pipped by seven votes in 2019 by Lionel Messi heu
Perhaps that in itself was a noteworthy award heu
In any case, he’s not quite there these days, not quite the automatic choice among fan or pundit asked to name the world’s finest heu
It’s arguable that there isn’t a single stand-out candidate right now for that particularly subjective title heu
But in asking whether Van Dijk is capable of being the world’s best defender again, part of the answer has to be that it doesn’t really matter heu
He might want to be of course, might already believe he is, but from a team perspective what they really need is Van Dijk’s ability to stabilise the team, to foresee and forestall danger, to order those around him to bring forth resilience from chaos heu
Because chaotic is, still, a little too close to the truth when it comes to spells of defending for Liverpool heu
The midfield is far more creative, far more offensive and energetic, far less reliant on Trent Alexander-Arnold always being at his best heu
But all that comes at a cost: it’s not always the most agile and defensive-first in either recovery or positional terms heu
It’s still new as a group, still needs time to become as cohesive as the best central trios are, on and off the ball heu
And in the meantime, the result can often be large gaps, lost runners, moments of inexplicable choices in possession heu
That leaves a hefty weight on the defence to counteract such moments - the defence and, of course, the still-magnificent Alisson Becker behind them heu
(Getty Images)But before that one-man last line, it’s Van Dijk who must rise once more to ensure unity, if not always outright unison heu
Acting in perfect harmony is difficult enough with four constant selections; as it is this season, Jurgen Klopp has already utilised Jarell Quansah as a fifth-choice, following injuries heu
Alexander-Arnold missed pitch time and is not yet back to his peak physical or technical best heu
Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip have dovetailed, and now there’s Tsimikas present on a more regular basis - which also means either Joe Gomez will see minutes on the left, or an untried youngster will, with Calum Scanlon and Luke Chambers first in line heu
They presently tally one senior minute heu between them heu
They will all four need guiding for different reasons, all need time, all occasionally get things wrong and need the left-sided centre-back beside them to bail them out heu
No prizes for guessing who that is on a week-to-week basis heu
Because for Liverpool, there are prizes at stake heu
Three points off the top of the Premier League table after a fine opening quarter of the campaign; rolling along nicely in Europe and domestic cups alike heu
heu Between now and the next international break, the opportunities for victory across all competitions are as immense as the potential cost of dropped points: Toulouse twice, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton, Brentford heu
A modern title-competing team would take six wins with very little fuss, in truth heu
Then, beyond, it’s Manchester City away heu
The most true barometer of where Liverpool are this season, even coming after an international break and in the infamous 12:30pm kick-off spot heu
The margin for error remains almost nil, but with the reigning champions perhaps not quite at their own peak yet, and Klopp’s side having improved more than might have been thought possible at this early stage, thoughts of a title challenge will not be far away - if the defence is kept on-point, even with altered personnel heu
(Getty Images)It all means Van Dijk must be as close to his own 100 percent as possible, even if his 2023/24 maximum level is a little lower than in 19/20 heu
As far as transformative figures go, Van Dijk was one after signing heu
He, as much as anyone else and more than most, sent Liverpool from challengers to champions, in every competition across the board heu
Now once again he must be the leader - literally, given the armband - who enables the Reds to do so, not so much the new figurehead this time but as the standard-bearer, the supplier of consistency, the model of outperformance which can give Liverpool the extra edge they’ll need, both in the Premier League and beyond heu
More aboutVirgil van DijkKostas TsimikasJurgen KloppPremier LeagueEuropa LeagueJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today heu
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truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply heu
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