World Rugby and SA Rugby are leading the way in using cutting-edge technology to monitor and protect the mental and cognitive health of both current and former elite South African rugby players. The sport governing bodies are doing so via launch of a new brain health service which aimed at safeguarding player well-being. Funded by World Rugby, the service is provided at no cost to players.
The online service has been in development since 2020, with work on the project beginning two years ago. SA is now the fourth country globally to have access to the Brain Health Service, joining Wales, Australia, and Ireland. New Zealand is said to be next in line.
SA rugby’s Medical manager Clint Readhead says the aim is to give back to players who have given their all to represent South Africa. pic.twitter.com/1NNsCPAy9I
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) March 11, 2025
“There’s a lot of negative press around concussions, head injuries and that but we are not here to talk about that. We are here to talk about what we can do for our retired players going forward. So when we looked at dementia, it’s a decline in brain function. It interferes with daily life, worsens over time and occurs beyond what we normally see as normal ageing. We’re helping society as well as our individuals,” explained Dr Martin Raftery, World Rugby’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer.
‘A FIRST FOR AFRICA’
It marks a significant milestone as the first African nation to offer this service, which focuses on preventing dementia. Given rugby’s nature as a contact sport with a high risk of head and brain injuries, the service is seen as a crucial step forward in player care. Clint Readhead, SA Rugby’s General Manager for Medical, offered insight into the importance and vision behind the initiative.
“From a South African rugby point of view, we are extremely proud to partner with World Rugby to launch the Brain Health Service in South Africa. We’re the first country in Africa and the fourth country in the world to introduce. This initiative underscores rugby’s commitment to player welfare,” explained Readhead.
1995 Rugby World Cup hero Joel Stransky attended the launch, and confirmed that he is already making use of the service.
“I think it’s massively important in the lives of past elite rugby players and hopefully one day it will be rolled out to all players, even if there’s a little fee involved. As rugga players, we put our bodies, heads and hearts on the line. The guys who did take a few bumps, you know, this is a chance just to check that everything is okay. I’ve seen players from my era suffer mental health issues, mainly depression. I’ve seen one or two guys not cope with life after rugby and do themselves a harm or live a life that is enormously risky. It is about equipping yourself to live a normal life,” added Stransky.
Lancet Commission (a global group of independent experts), identified that dementia was “the most prominent global challenge, for health and social care, in the 21st century”.
READ MORE: ‘SA rugby has never been as strong as now,’ says former Springbok captain Corne Krige
