It’s a comment often heard on social media, by rugby commentators and even from players themselves – “the game’s gone soft”!
In fact, rugby at the top level has never been harder and by “harder” we mean more dangerous.
If you do hear the “game’s gone soft” comment again, please point the individual in the direction of this list, which is a compilation of players who have cited head traumas or brain injuries as the sole (or major contributing factor) to their retirement from rugby.
It doesn’t include those who are still playing rugby having suffered serious complications from head traumas (Halfpenny, North, Sexton, Brown etc), nor does it include those players that may not have been completely open about the reasons for their retirement.
If there are any players missing off this list please let us know and we will try and keep it up to date.
The threat of serious brain injuries from rugby incidents isn’t a hypothetical scenario; it’s real and the implications are visible now.
There are currently 61 players on this list.
Australia
Nic Berry (Wasps, Racing Metro, Queensland Reds) – Retired in 2012, aged 28.
A “concussive episode” during the season opener against Harlequins has forced him to quit the game
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/19786807
Anthony Faingaa (Brumbies, Reds, Kintetsu Liners, Australia) – Retired in February 2019 aged 32.
The 32-year-old revealed the lingering effects of concussion were so bad he had to be held up at the altar at twin brother and fellow ex-Wallaby Saia’s wedding due to a head injury
Elton Flatley (Reds, Australia) – Retired in 2006 aged 28.
Retired due to repeated blurred vision after suffering seven concussions in the space of two years.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/flatley-retirement-rocks-world-rugby-20060316-gdn5zc.html
England
Finlay Barnham (Leicester Tigers Academy, Nottingham) – Retired in 2015 aged 24.
Retired after taking medical advice following a six-month spell on the sidelines recovering from concussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/30931415
Mouritz Botha (Sharks, Saracens, Newcastle, England) – Retired in 2017 aged 35.
Retired on medical advice related to concussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40865653
Peter Browne (Ulster, London Welsh, Harlequins, Newcastle) – Retired in 2018 aged 30.
Repeated concussions revealed his “increased propensity for concussion symptoms following any head injury”.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45881972
Alex Cheesman (Cornish Pirates) – Retired in 2018 aged 29.
Cheesman played 122 games for the Penzance-based side in six seasons, before being forced to retire after repeated concussions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44938329
Shontayne Hape (Bath, London Irish, Montpellier, England) – Retired in 2014 aged 33.
Retired after repeated concussion incidents – more than 20 throughout his career.
Andy Hazell (Gloucester, England) – Retired in 2014 aged 35.
Forced to retire after failing to recover from a pre-season concussion injury
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/26019840
David Jackson (Nottingham) – Retired in 2013 aged 31.
Retired on medical grounds after suffering a head injury in pre-season training
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/25448024
Chris Jones (Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, Yorkshire Carnegie, England) – Retired in 2018 aged 35, following a concussion event against Nottingham. The club’s doctors advised Jones that it would not be safe to continue playing.
https://www.yorkshirecarnegie.com/news/article/chris-jones-forced-to-retire-following-head-injury/
Michael Lipman (Melbourne Rebels, Bristol, Bath, England) – Retired in 2012 aged 32.
Lipman admitted he’d had “possibly 30” concussions in a 12-year career
Kat Merchant (England Women) – Retired in 2014 aged 28.
Retired on medical advice, after sustaining a number of concussions during her career
http://www.englandrugby.com/news/features/trio-women-rugby-world-cup-winners-retire/
Jon Pendlebury (Gloucester, Leeds Carnegie) – Retired in 2012 aged 29.
He commented that he had received a number of concussions during the season.
https://therpa.co.uk/jon-pendlebury-announces-his-retirement-from-rugby/
France
Petrus Hauman (Brive, Stade Aurillacois and Boland Cavaliers) – Retired in 2018 aged 31 from repeated concussions
Marie-Alice Yahe (France Women’s captain) – Retired in 2014 aged 29, due to repeated concussion events
http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/yahe-another-head-blow-couldve-killed-me
Ireland
Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster, Ireland) – Retired in 2015 aged 31 on medical advice after receiving a number of concussions
John Fogarty (Leinster, Ireland) – Retired in 2010 aged 33 as a result of difficulties brought about by repeated concussions
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/1107/272818-fogartyj_leinster_ireland/
Bernard Jackman (Connacht, Leinster, Sale, Ireland) – Retired in 2010 aged 34 because of repeated concussion – Jackman had 20 over three seasons and estimated he was concussed 35-40 times in his career.
Ben Marshall (Leinster, Connacht, Emerging Ireland) – Retired in 2017 aged 26 on medical advice following a concussion injury
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2017/0131/849045-ben-marshall-retirement/
Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster, Ireland) – Retired in 2015 aged 31 on medical grounds after a neurologist raised concerns over issues related to concussion
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0922/729529-kevin-mclaughlin-to-retire-on-medical-grounds/
Dave McSharry (Connacht) – Retired in 2016 aged 26 after suffering multiple concussions
Dominic Ryan (Leicester, Leinster, Ireland) – Retired in 2018 at 28 years old from “terrifying” concussion related health problems.
Nathan White (Waikato, Connacht, Ireland) – Retired in 2016 aged 35 from professional rugby on medical advice following a concussion he sustained in March 2016
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37496408
Cillian Willis (Leinster, Connacht, Ulster, Sale) – Forced to retire in 2013 at 28 due to concussion
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/23/cillian-willis-sue-sale-sharks-concussion-saracens
New Zealand
Ben Afeaki (Chiefs, New Zealand) – Retired in 2015 aged 27, with ongoing concussion symptoms following a head clash with team mate Brodie Retallick
Lee Allan (Otago, Highlanders) – Retired in 2017 aged 25.
Allan was injured in early 2015 and missed all that season because of consussion. He came back in 2016 but after another couple of knocks, he ended his career at the end of that year.
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/allan-joins-otago-set-defence-coach
Kane Barrett (Taranaki, Blues) – took an elbow to the jaw while training with the Auckland Blues in March 2014 aged 22. He hasn’t played since.
David Briggs (Taranaki, Chiefs, Tonga) – Retired in 2017 aged 29.
“I had heaps of concussions. I suffered depression big-time from those head knocks. I don’t think I will ever be right. I accept I will have depression for the rest of my life and a lot of memory loss”
James Broadhurst (Taranaki, Canterbury, Hurricanes, New Zealand) – Retired in 2015 aged 29.
Broadhurst called it a day on rugby after being badly concussed in the Taranaki v Wellington provincial clash in August 2015
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11846857
Dan Bowden (multiple clubs including Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders) – Retired in 2018 aged 32.
He mentioned that he had “struggled with concussions” in his statement explaining his retirement
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/dan-bowden-calls-time/
Shane Christie (Highlanders) – forced to retire in May 2018 aged 32 due to ongoing symptoms from a concussion he suffered back in 2016
Craig Clarke (Chiefs, Connacht) – Retired in 2013 at 30 after suffering his 10th concussion in 22 months
http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/228363.html
Shane Cleaver (Taranaki, Chiefs) – Retired in 2013 aged 26 due to concussion complications
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/9270037/Too-many-knocks-take-a-toll-on-Shane-Cleaver
Steve Devine (Auckland, Blues, New Zealand) – Retired in 2007 aged 30.
Devine suffered numerous concussions during his decade long career which resulted in specialists advising the 30-year-old that it was time to give up the game
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/32732/Head-knocks-end-Devines-rugby-career
Jason Eaton (Hurricanes, La Rochelle, New Zealand) – Retired in 2018 aged 35.
Eaton suffered a head knock playing against Clermont in 2018 and has decided to retire at the end of this season because his symptoms haven’t improved.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/356619/concussion-forces-another-all-black-out-of-the-game
Reggie Goodes (Wellington, Hurricanes) – Retired in 2018 aged 26 on medical advice after suffering multiple concussions
Leon MacDonald (Canterbury, Crusaders, New Zealand) – Retired in 2010 aged 32.
MacDonald was prompted to retire due to a serious concussion, suffered playing for Kintetsu in a pre-season game in Japan
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/3560571/Former-All-Black-Leon-MacDonald-retires
Liam Polwart (Chiefs, Maori) – Retired in 2019 aged 24.
Polwart has missed a large number of games in his Super Rugby career due to concussions. His brother Sean also retired due to concussion related injuries in 2017.
Sean Polwart (Auckland, Blues and Chiefs) – Retired in 2017 aged 26.
Polwart announced his retirement from rugby because of a concussion received on the training field in February 2015
Mark Reddish (Harlequins, Wellington, Hurricanes, Highlanders) – Retired in 2017 aged 32 from rugby for medical reasons after suffering a concussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40418365
Toby Smith (Chiefs, Rebels, Hurricanes, Australia) – Retired in 2019 aged 31.
Smith has suffered with on-going issues with concussion, and while currently symptom-free, he chose not to put that at risk and did not resign his contract with the Hurricanes
Jayden Spence (Otago, Union Bordeaux Begles) – Retired in 2018 aged 26 after suffering a number of concussion issues
http://www.lexvdedepart.com/2018/04/30/rugby-top-14-bordeaux-retraite-forcee-pour-jayden-spence/
Dan Waenga (Chiefs, Biarittz) – Retired in 2016 aged 31.
Waenga played his last game in 2015 and retired after medical advice following 12 concussion incidents
Dan describes some of his symptoms at the bottom of the article below, which included depression, anxiety and sleeping up to 18 hours a day.
http://www.prorugbyclub.com/knockedout-rugby-concussion-prevention/
Scotland
Mike Blair – (Edinburgh, Brive, Newcastle Falcons, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland) – Retired in 2016 aged 35. Blair brought forward his retirement following 2 concussions in 3 months, which he failed to recover from.
David Denton (Edinburgh, Bath, Worcester, Leicester, Scotland) – Retired in 2019 aged 29 following concussion sustained in October 2018 against Northampton Saints.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49712831
South Africa
Peter Grant (Numerous teams including Stormers, Western Force, South Africa) – Retired in 2019 on medical advice after suffering a number of concussions in his career
https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/25882828/rugby-ex-springbok-peter-grant-forced-retire
Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks, Saracens, South Africa) – Retired in 2016 aged 30 after suffering “a number of concussions” in the last couple of seasons
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37562620
Patrick Lambie (Racing 92, Sharks, South Africa) – Retired in January 2019 aged 28 following a number of concussion incidents.
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/retiring-lambie-disappointed-but-relieved/
Wales
Robson Blake (Dragons, Bedwas) – Retired in 2018 at 23 years old after a 6 month long battle with concussion.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/retired-just-23-welsh-rugbys-14986694
Adam Hughes (Dragons, Bristol, Exeter) – Retired in 2018 aged 28.
“A neurologist said that playing rugby wasn’t an option due to two major trauma scars that I had sustained on my brain”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43831014
Ben John (Ospreys) – retired in January 2019 at 27 years old after failing to recover from 3 serious head injuries over 12 months, including a mid air collision with Steff Evans in 2017
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-player-makes-heartbreaking-15644695
Matthew Pewtner (Dragons) – Retired in 2016 aged 25 after the player failed to recover from a head injury
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35593785
Ashley Smith (Dragons) – Retired in 2015 aged 28 after suffering a “series of concussive events”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32911804
Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys, Worcester, Wales) – Retired in 2015 at the age of 32 after being diagnosed with epilepsy that is thought to have been brought on from multiple head traumas
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/15/jonathan-thomas-retire-epilepsy-worcester-rugby-union
Rory Watts Jones (Cardiff Blues) – Forced to retire in 2015 through concussion aged 26
Other Nations
Justin Blanchet (Exeter Chiefs, Bedford Blues, Canada) – Retired in 2019 aged 26 after suffering his 4th concussion in 12 months in the World Cup warm up game against the USA
https://t.co/BW0ti0vrnj—
Justin Blanchet (@jblanch93) September 25, 2019
Ben Bolger (UAE) – Retired in 2017 aged 28 after suffering 2 head injuries in 2 weeks
Aaron Carpenter (Coventry, Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates, London Welsh, Doncaster, Canada) – Retired in 2018 aged 34 after a number of head injuries
Ryan Hamilton (Canada) – Retired in 2015 aged 26.
Neck injuries and a “history of concussions” led to his retirement.
Cameron Pierce (Pau, Canada) – Retired in 2017 at 25 years old.
Twitter profile states “rugby player retired from concussions”
http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/03/30/cam-pierce-takes-time/
Distribution by year:
2019: 8
2018: 13
2017: 8
2016: 6
2015: 9
2014: 5
2013: 4
2012: 3
2011: 0
2010: 3
2009: 0
2008: 0
2007: 1
2006: 1
Note: Jared Payne retired from Ulster and Ireland duty in May 2018 through complications leading from a head injury suffered on the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour.
Ulster’s then Director of Rugby, Les Kiss stated that the episodes were not “concussion-related”, so until further information to contradict this becomes available, Payne will not be listed as retiring from concussion related events.
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Bill Beaumont (England)?
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I see I made the list, you are missing Adam Whitelock of New Zealand/Bayonne France and Ryan Hamilton of Rugby Canada is also one to have retired a few years ago now.
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Thanks Cameron. I have added Ryan to the list but I’m struggling to find an article that says Adam Whitelock retired because of concussions.
Would you have a link to an article? He doesn’t seem to be on social media, so I can’t contact him directly.
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Scotland missing : Doddie Weir sadly now battling advance stage of Motor Neurone Disease
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Thanks Cameron. I have added Ryan to the list but I’m struggling to find an article that says Adam Whitelock retired because of concussions.
Would you have a link to an article? He doesn’t seem to be on social media, so I can’t contact him directly.
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CTE gets such a lot of coverage. I am mystified that we don’t hear so much about PTHP, which is just as devastating, but curable. PTHP stands for post-traumatic hypopituitarism, which is a complication of both severe head injury and concussion, and can cause suicidal depression, fatigue, infertility, loss of sex drive, heart problems, osteoporosis and obesity, though not necessarily all in the same person. What it is, is damage to the pituitary gland, the ‘master gland’ which controls fertility, libido, physical strength, mood and energy levels. It is treated by ongoing replacement of the hormones which the pituitary gland can no longer make or cause the body to make – i.e. growth hormone, the sex hormones, thyroxine, and cortisol. This is not a complete list! There are many academic studies, for example of retired boxers and footballers, that show a high incidence of PTHP. Google and see. Anyone who suspects they have this condition will encounter huge difficulties getting tested properly, and huge difficulties getting treated, particularly if it is growth hormone they need, as this is expensive. I believe there is a widespread reluctance to uncover too many cases, especially as it has been estimated that a million UK citizens have undiagnosed PTHP. Go private if you can afford it, and don’t be fobbed off.
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