23% of elite rugby players have brain structure abnormalities, study finds

A highly concerning new study lays bare the danger of repeated head impacts for rugby players. After performing scans of 44 elite adult rugby players, experts found 23 per cent had abnormalities in brain structure, specifically in white matter and blood vessels of the brain. White matter mainly comprises the neural pathways, the long extensions of the nerve cells, and is crucial to our cognitive ability. The study also found 50 per cent of the rugby players had an unexpected reduction in brain volume. Non-profit the Drake Foundation, which backed the study, is now calling for immediate changes in rugby protocols to ensure long-term welfare of elite players.