Rugby player retires due to epilepsy after multiple concussions on pitch
- Sep 17, 2015
- EmmaArnold
A professional rugby player has been forced to retire after developing epilepsy thought to be caused by multiple blows to the head.
Jonathan Thomas, who played for Wales and Worcester, was diagnosed with the mild brain injury last year and has now retired after medical advice.
After sustaining concussion multiple times throughout his career, Thomas began experiencing seizures and memory loss.
This comes almost a year after new rules were introduced in the sport into the management of concussion on the pitch.
Thomas believes rugby players need to be honest and stop being so 'gladiatorial' when it comes to admitting you've been knocked.
Richard Edwards, Senior Solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
It’s is very sad indeed to hear of a premature end to this gentleman’s career. This is an issue, however, that is gaining wider recognition in contact sports and has featured prominently also in the United States recently particularly in the context of American Football.
There is now a clearer understanding of the impact repeated blows to the head can have, as this story sadly illustrates. The sporting bodies are finding themselves under increasing pressure to take greater care for the safety of those that participate in the sports they regulate and this is to be welcomed.
It is incumbent upon those who are responsible for the safety of sports men and women to ensure that they are not exposed to risks that are preventable, and that is particularly acute where the risk of serious injury is concerned. This is undoubtedly a very difficult task, that involves balancing lots of different issues and interests, but as awareness of these issues increases, sticking with the status quo will become more and more difficult to justify.