'I gave my heart, body and soul to rugby, I didn't know I was giving my mind too' - Former Welsh international Alix Popham's harrowing diagnosis
Former Wales forward Alix Popham has revealed how his life has been “turned upside down” due to brain damage sustained while playing the game.
Popham, who won 33 caps for Wales between 2003 and 2008, was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in April.
He is one of a group of former internationals, including ex-England hooker Steve Thompson, planning legal action for negligence against the rugby authorities.
“From the age of four, rugby was my life; it still is. I had a great career and willingly gave my heart, body and soul to rugby. I just didn’t know I was giving my mind too,” Popham said.
The former Newport, Leeds, Llanelli and Brive back row’s diagnosis followed a period of short-term memory loss, which included causing a fire at home after he left a grill on.
His wife Mel can no longer leave him at home to look after their two-year-old daughter, while it was during a bike ride when he realised that something was seriously wrong.
“I was out on a bike ride when I pulled up at a crossroads and had no memory of where I was, how I got there or how to get home,” he said. “I had to use an app on my phone to navigate back home to Newport.
“That incident really frightened me. I quickly went to see the GP who ordered an MRI scan and some neuropsychological testing.
“The MRI showed ‘a few white dots’ but found no sign of any major problem, so I was reassured in some ways, but confused and frustrated as I was still suffering symptoms which were having a really negative impact on my life.”
Popham’s diagnosis was made after a DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) scan, neuropsychological testing and an interview with a neurologist a few months later.
“In just one phone call – on April 16 this year, not long after lockdown had started – my world was turned upside down.
“Yes, we had an answer as to why I was struggling so much, but my future looked so bleak.
“Mel and I only married last year, we were hoping to have another child too, but that’s just not going to be possible now. We can’t do that knowing my diagnosis and what this means.”
Popham said there are chunks of his playing career that he has little memory of, such as his last game for Wales against England in 2008.
“The way it has been described to me is that my brain was repeatedly inflamed from numerous concussions and sub-concussions so it brain was a bit like a camera without a film, it took pictures but it didn’t store them,” he said.
Comments on RugbyPass
Incorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
4 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
10 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
12 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments“Hidden comments” all over the place😂 Turlough’s been a busy little boy ey🤭
107 Go to commentsit’ll all be released in an autobiography a few years from now….. “Razor shafted me” blah blah blah. thinking of making Scott Barrett captain might be a good move. Could calm down his brain fades & make him an even better player for them
4 Go to commentsSadly he played far too many games too young. England and France really do need to look after their younger players better.
1 Go to commentsHaving finally been able to watch the first Chasing the Sun (thanks RugbyPass!) - because I refuse to pay DSTV's extortionate monthly fee in SA - after four years, it was amazing to see Mapimpi's story as well as seeing my personal hero, Rassie, breaking down when telling it. There _is_ hope for the country, but only once we've got rid of the crooked and incompetent ANC (and others) who have set out to destroy it. Viva Rassie, viva Kolisi viva rugby!
1 Go to commentsWhether true or not, all the best to you Sam Cane. A warrior of a player and a loyal servant to the ABs! Go get you some yen and have some fun.
4 Go to comments