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WELLINGTON. — A major study of rugby union players points to a potential link between frequent concussion and brain function, the project’s lead researcher said yesterday. Releasing preliminary findings from the long-term study in New Zealand, the largest of its type to ever focus on rugby union, researcher Patria Hume said players needed to be aware of the risks.

“If you have a concussion you need to report it and get it medically assessed,” Professor Hume said.

“You also need to consider that potentially there may be some long-term health effects. Ninety-four percent of elite level rugby players experienced one or more concussions, that’s a lot.”

The Auckland University of Technology study was commissioned by World Rugby in 2012 amid growing fears about the potential for long-term brain injuries in high-impact sports.

It examined the health of 485 men – 131 of them former professional rugby players, 281 amateur rugby players and 73 who had played non-contact sports such as cricket and hockey.

Hume said the study, which is in the process of being peer reviewed for publication, showed a statistically significant link between repeated concussion and brain damage.

“We’ve got to go through that scientific process, but what I’m saying is that, as a scientist, it’s irresponsible for people to say there are no long-term brain health issues,” she said.

“Because all indications so far from the analysis we have done indicates that there possibly are for the rugby players and for people who have been concussed more than four times.”

She said rugby players who have suffered four or more concussions performed worse in tests measuring mental and physical coordination, motor speed and multi-tasking. World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper described player welfare as his number one priority, saying he wanted more research into preventing and managing concussion.

“While the study does not provide any definitive conclusions, we are alive to all potential risks and, as such, we will continue to prioritise research in this very important area,” he said. — AFP.