Growing Concerns Prompt Investigation

England’s most-capped men’s player, Ben Youngs, is leading a critical examination of rugby’s safety protocols in a new BBC Sport documentary, Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?. The documentary arrives on BBC iPlayer on March 2nd and will air on BBC One on March 3rd at 10:40 PM.

The film addresses rising anxieties about concussion and its potential link to long-term brain health, a conversation gaining momentum as participation in the sport continues to grow.

Lewis Moody Reflects on Risks

The documentary features an emotional discussion with former teammate Lewis Moody, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) last year. Moody, known as Mad Dog for his aggressive playing style, acknowledged the inherent risks of the sport.

“I do think I was very aware of the risks that rugby presented when you go and smash yourself into another human being week in, week out, day in and day out. I think I was acutely aware of the risks that come with that in terms of injury, concussion…but I was happy that the reward and the joy that playing a sport that has risks associated with it, the reward for me far outweighed any of the risks and I would do it again.”

Lewis Moody

Moody added, I have the life now, the peace, the happiness, the family, the existence because of what I got to do for a living.

Personal Accounts of Long-Term Impact

The documentary also includes interviews with other former players grappling with serious health issues. Steve Thompson, a 2003 World Cup winner, revealed he has no memory of the victory and is living with dementia.

“People ask me about it and I can’t even remember being in Australia [for World Cup win in 2003]. It’s like there’s nothing in that period there. Think of your head as a camera, you’re taking stuff in but your SD card is damaged.”

Steve Thompson

Thompson also shared his struggles with suicidal thoughts following his diagnosis, recounting a moment at a train station where he contemplated ending his life.

Alix Popham and Kat Merchant also shared their experiences with brain conditions. Popham recalled a blackout even as cycling, while Merchant described the debilitating effects of concussions, including seizures and periods of intense darkness.

“I got my first concussion where I got fully knocked out at 16 years old. My one in 2013, the worst one, I got knocked out and had a seizure on the pitch and that was a real moment for me. I was realistically going to have to retire from the amount that I’d had and I had a year of really going to some dark places. Lights felt so bright, noises felt so loud and I’d be physically sat in my own house in the dark just cowering at noises, and it really was just awful.”

Kat Merchant

Addressing Safety Measures and Future of the Game

The documentary explores what rugby’s governing bodies are doing to improve safety, including new technologies and strengthened protocols. It also raises questions about player responsibility and whether previous generations contributed to the current issues.

Popham emphasized the importance of addressing contact in training, stating, 80% of my damage was done in training and One can manage that contact…we need to move forward with safety first and foremost to create the game survive.

Merchant highlighted the need to apply lessons learned from the men’s game to the rapidly growing women’s game, adding, You’ve got to look after your brain, you only get one of them…rugby is amazing, but so is the rest of your life.