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'That weighs heavily on my mind... it scares the s*** out of me'

By PA
England's lock Joe Launchbury (R) and US lock Nick Civetta vie in a maul during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between England and the United States at the Kobe Misaki Stadium in Kobe (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)

The commitment of the Oxford University men’s rugby team to help towards a better future for the next generation of players has been praised after they pledged to donate their brains to the Concussion Legacy Project.

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Ahead of Saturday’s varsity match at Twickenham, the Oxford players have followed in the footsteps of England World Cup winner Steve Thompson by offering to give their brains to research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other consequences of brain trauma in contact sport.

The Concussion Legacy Project brain bank was only launched in September through a partnership between Concussion Legacy Foundation UK and the Jeff Astle Foundation but this pledge represents the third major donation to help in the battle to prevent former sporting athletes being diagnosed with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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USA international Nick Civetta is part of the Oxford squad and while the 32-year-old is in the latter stages of his career, the majority of his team-mates are only starting out, and he has talked up their understanding of why this is such an important issue.

“Neurodegenerative disease in contact sport is something that weighs heavily on my mind and should be in the back of the mind of every parent or player of a contact sport,” Civetta told the PA news agency.

“The synergy of us being rugby players, also scholars and people who are concerned about their brains functioning and brain health later in life, it seemed like a no-brainer.

“Also these are uncomfortable conversations to have with your team-mates, especially the younger ones who are starting out in their rugby career but the way the guys have responded to the opportunity to contribute to an organisation with such important goals for our sport was really impressive.

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“I was really impressed with the way they were able to compartment analyse the heavier aspect of what CLF does and their commitment has been really great.”

Civetta, who played at the 2019 World Cup and faced England at Twickenham last summer, has been encouraged by the work of CLF UK, who aim to find a cure for CTE by 2040.

It has long been felt America are ahead of the UK in efforts to prevent retired contact-sport players suffering dementia, which is largely down to the rise in current and former NFL players who reported traumatic brain injuries at the start of the 21st century.

As a result concussion protocols for American Football were brought in for 2009 but across the Atlantic other sports and countries have been slower to react until recent years.

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Oxford lock Civetta added: “The fact the US got started on this is part and parcel with the scary things that have been happening to American Football players over the last 20 to 30 years.

“With rugby being almost into its 30th year as a professional sport, you are starting to get a first generation of guys who were professional rugby players, now in their forties and fifties, who are potentially starting to see symptoms and that scares the s*** out of me!

“It should certainly be cause for more money to go into research for this sort of thing.”

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While Civetta has only experienced concussion on three or four occasions during a career that has seen him play domestically in France, Italy and England, he has seen the devastating impact a lack of understanding on the issue can have.

The former Newcastle and Doncaster forward feels positive steps are being made in his sport which, coupled with the work of the likes of CLF, will aim to help the next generation of players enjoy a brighter post-retirement future.

“Hopefully in the next five to 10 years we have a way out of this disease whether it is with a cure or through the ability to diagnose really early and find treatment,” he said before Saturday’s 150th anniversary of the Oxford vs Cambridge varsity match.

“It is everywhere and has touched probably every rugby player through their friends and team-mates over the years so it is scary.

“You can’t avoid it. I think I have been fairly lucky and suffered three, maybe four minor concussions over the course of my career.

“But I have been on the field with guys who have got concussed, stayed on, got concussed again and ended up with second-impact syndrome, brain bleeds and having to get a quarter of their skull removed with that being the end of their career.

“It is pervasive, it is everywhere and the risk that comes part and parcel with the sport but we need to design the sport to accommodate for the best outcome for people’s brain health right?

“I think that is a big part of what CLF is aiming at and a big part of what World Rugby is aiming at with their cutting-edge concussion protocols which will hopefully continue to improve.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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