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☆ Dementia and sport: These rugby players represented their country in their 20s, by their 40s, they had early onset dementia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Popham’s wife, Mel, would have a conversation with her husband and an hour later he would have “no recollection,” he tells CNN Sport. Richard Boardman, the lawyer representing the claimants, told CNN Sport that this is causing an “existential threat” to the game. “As far as the brain is concerned, it doesn’t matter what sport is played,” Michael Grey, a neuroscientist at the University of East Anglia, told CNN Sport. Nowinski, a WWE wrestler turned neuroscientist, told CNN Sport that head injury protocols need to go beyond treating concussion. The paper, which looked at 412 Scottish former international male rugby players aged 30 and above and 1,236 members of the public who had been matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status, found that the rugby players’ risk of a dementia diagnosis over time was just over twice as high.

Persons: Alix Popham, Mel, ”, Popham, ” Popham, I’ve, Alix Popham of Wales, Pat Riordan of, Stu Forster, Lenny Woodard, Woodard, “, “ I’d, I’d, ” Woodard, Brook Joyner, Richard Boardman, ” Michael Grey, Chris Nowinski, Scott McIntyre, Nowinski, ” Ann McKee, ” Boardman, Roger Goodell, University of East Anglia Boardman, Grey, –, ” Steve Borthwick of, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul Harding, ” Grey, McKee, it’s, aren’t, we’re, shouldn’t, weren’t, ” Alix Popham Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, rugby, Rugby, Alix Popham of Wales offloads, Pat Riordan of Canada, Wales, Getty, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, WRU, Springer, University of East, National Football League Players, Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, Washington Post, Boston University CTE Center, British Medical, Exercise, NFL, NFL.com, University of East Anglia, RBS, Nations, University of Glasgow, Boston University, University of Sydney, Scottish, ’, “ Rugby, England Rugby, Boston University’s CTE, CTE Locations: France, Wales, England, Canada, Nantes, Europe, University of East Anglia, American, Woodward, Boston

☆ Owen Farrell: England captain to miss Six Nations, taking break from international rugby to prioritize mental health
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —England captain Owen Farrell is taking a break from international rugby “to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being,” club side Saracens announced on Wednesday. The club said that Farrell will miss next year’s Six Nations but will continue to play for and captain Saracens. He was also the top scorer at the World Cup with 75 points. “Everyone at England Rugby is fully behind Owen’s decision,” England head coach Steve Borthwick said in a statement. Farrell led England during the team's Rugby World Cup semifinal defeat against South Africa in Paris last month.

Persons: Owen Farrell, Farrell, Jonny Wilkinson’s, Steve Borthwick, Hannah Peters, Owen, ” Farrell, Farrell’s, Andy Farrell, Borthwick, ”, Tom Curry, Franco Arland, “ Organizations: CNN, England, rugby “, Saracens, Rugby, England Rugby, South, Argentina Locations: England, South Africa, Paris, Ireland

☆ Uncertainty now for Springboks as winning era ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

First to be settled is what happens with Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, who is seen as the maverick genius behind the country's successive World Cup triumphs. He was coach in 2019 when they won in Japan but tweaked his role thereafter, relinquished the coaching post to his long-time lieutenant Jacques Nienaber. Both have been lauded for the analytical work and attention to detail and are likely to be sorely missed. None of the winning squad have spoken of quitting, either the game overall or their international careers, but the intensity of the World Cup campaign takes a toll as the 31-year-old centre Damian de Allende explained when asked whether he would continue with the Boks. "I would love to say yes but at the moment I have to take it year by year,” he said after Saturday’s victory.

Persons: Denis, Webb Ellis, Stephanie Lecocq, Rugby Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber, Felix Jones, Steve Borthwick, Duane Vermeulen, Damian de Allende, ”, “ I’m Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, Rights, Irish, Leinster, South, England, Ireland, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Japan, Africa, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Europe

☆ England claim bronze but need more to challenge the elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PARIS, Oct 28 (Reuters) - From where they were at the end of their dismal warm-ups, England's World Cup was an unqualified success and they were within three minutes of one of the great sporting turnarounds. They arrived amid the gloom of five defeats in six games but finished on a high with six wins out of seven. The skewed nature of the draw obviously favoured them, and reaching the semi-finals looked possible and even probable regardless of their form based on their World Cup history and the quality of players in the squad. Already assured of top spot in their group, England laboured against Samoa before snatching a late victory. "I always believed we would be right... We were clear that the World Cup isn't played in August," he said after clinching third place.

Persons: Tom Curry, George Ford, Henry Arundell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell's, Dan Cole, Joe Marler, Steve Borthwick's, Ben Earls, Borthwick, hasn't, Eddie Jones, isn't, Hooker Theo Dan, Mitch Phillips, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Springbok, South Africa, Argentina, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: France, Argentina, England, Marseille, Chile, South Africa

☆ Different feel as England Argentina meet again in bronze final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Of course the one that spoiled that streak was the agonising one-point semi-final defeat by South Africa, but it is still an England team unrecognisable in confidence and execution from the one that endured a dismal August warm-up campaign. England eventually advanced as pool winners, then beat Fiji before their Springbok loss, while Argentina improved to beat Japan to clinch second place then see off Wales in the quarter-final. Borthwick and Pumas coach Michael Cheika followed their defeats by immediately stressing that they were treating the bronze final as a match they were taking very seriously. "Winning the bronze medal is very important for the future and the legacy of the most experienced players. England have also won all four of the teams' pool clashes at the World Cup.

Persons: Steve Borthwick, Tom Curry, flyhalf George Ford, Ford banged, Michael Cheika, Borthwick, Cheika, Owen Farrell, Ford, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward, Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo, Agustin Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Chessum, Will Stuart, Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlum, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: England, Rugby, Fiji, Springbok, Japan, Borthwick, Pumas, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: Argentina, South Africa, England, Marseille, Wales, New Zealand, flyhalf

☆ New look for England as Arundell, Steward and Smith start v Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tom Curry, who will win his 50th cap, moves to the blindside to reprise the successful back row partnership from the 2019 tournament, with Ben Earl at number eight. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs starts his first game of the tournament to extend his caps record to 127, with captain Owen Farrell at flyhalf. Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, George Ford and Ollie Lawrence are on the bench. The teams met on the opening weekend of the tournament in Marseille, when England won 27-10 despite having Curry sent off after three minutes. England have also won all four of the teams' pool clashes at the World Cup.

Persons: Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward, Marcus Smith, Steve Borthwick, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Theo Dan, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Scrumhalf Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Borthwick, Smith, Arundell, Steward, Curry, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, Maro Itoje, Lewis Ludlum, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: England, Argentina, South, openside, Springboks, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: South Africa, flyhalf, Paris, Chile, Marseille, England

☆ Online abuse of Curry unacceptable, says Farrell
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - England flanker Tom Curry has been on the receiving end of relentless online abuse this week and captain Owen Farrell, usually a player who says the minimum in his media dealings, took to the microphone on Wednesday to say it was unacceptable. "What isn't understandable is the amount of abuse he's got," Farrell said in press conference ahead of Friday's bronze final against Argentina. But that is Tom Curry. "This is not a Tom Curry incident - someone has said something in the game that he has reported and he is getting on with preparing. This is a World Rugby and SA Rugby matter to deal with."

Persons: Tom Curry, Owen Farrell, Curry, Bongi Mbonambi, he's, Farrell, it's, we've, Tom, It's, Steve Borthwick, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: World Rugby, South Africa Rugby, New Zealand, Argentina, Rugby, SA Rugby, Curry's, Sharks, Thomson Locations: England

☆ South Africa show England how it's won
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Semi Final - England v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 21, 2023 South Africa's RG Snyman, Deon Fourie and teammates celebrate after the match as South Africa reach the final REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - England played a wonderful kicking game against South Africa but their inability to score tries and their inferiority in the scrums eventually proved their undoing in their World Cup semi-final loss on Saturday. South Africa won seven of their eight scrums while England could only won three of their seven, and that eventually gave the defending champions the decisive momentum. England have not scored a try against South Africa at a World Cup since the pool phase in 2003. South Africa are current world champions and world number ones for a reason," Borthwick said. It was the second match in a row that South Africa won by a single point after prevailing 29-28 against hosts France last weekend.

Persons: Denis, Deon Fourie, Sarah Meyssonnier, Steve Borthwick's, Owen Farrell, Handre Pollard, Jacques Nienaber's, Ellis Genge, Borthwick, Farrell, Nienaber, It's, Julien Pretot, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, England, Stade de France, Saint, Snyman, Rights, South, South Africa, Springbok, France, Thomson Locations: South Africa, France, England

☆ Irrepressible Earl drives England into World Cup last four
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Owen Farrell was the official man of the match but not an England fan leaving the Marseille Velodrome is likely to have looked beyond Ben Earl for the outstanding player in England's 30-24 World Cup victory over Fiji on Sunday. "After we played Fiji at Twickenham we got told we wouldn't get out the group, but now we are in the semi-final, one of the best four teams in the competition. Jones preferred the bulk of Vunipola to the athleticism Earl brings to the role and Borthwick also took a while to be convinced. However, as a rare bright light in a dismal series of warm-up games the 25-year-old Earl forced his way into the starting team and has been superb at the World Cup. I don't like to pick out individuals after such a team effort today but he certainly played a big part."

Persons: Owen Farrell, Ben Earl, Farrell, Steve Borthwick, Billy Vunipola, I've, Earl, wouldn't, Eddie Jones, Jones, Borthwick, Saracen Farrell, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Marseille, Fiji, Sunday, Twickenham, Saracens, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, England, England's, Vunipola

☆ Farrell kicks England into semis with classic win over Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Centres Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant scored tries as England led 24-10 early in the second half on the back of their most impressive performance for years. However, in classic style, Fiji scored two tries in four minutes to change the mood, only for England, thanks to surging runs by outstanding number eight Ben Earl, to regain a lead they held on to in a dramatic finale. England reached their sixth World Cup semi-final and will go in search of a fifth final appearance when they meet France or South Africa. "There was obviously a spell where Fiji scored two back-to-back tries, which Fiji can do probably better than anyone else in the world. For most of the match, a fired-up England were unrecognisable from the team who looked so lacklustre against Samoa last week.

Persons: Farrell, Captain Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Ben Earl, England, Steve Borthwick, Simon Raiwalui, Marchant, Viliame Mata, Peni Ravai, Vilimoni, Simione, Earl, Vilimoni Botitu, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Fiji, France, Islanders, Samoa, Twickenham, England, Blacks, Thomson Locations: South Africa MARSEILLE, France, England, South Africa, Fiji, Paris

☆ England set to drop Ford, start Smith at fullback in Fiji quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick looks set to make radical changes for Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Fiji by dropping George Ford and starting Marcus Smith at fullback, strengthening his midfield defence and injecting some energy into the attack. However, while his defence and aerial skills are superior to Smith's, Steward has shown little in attack - though he is far from alone there. Defence generally has not been the issue for England as they racked up four wins in a row. Before the Samoa game they had the best defence in the tournament and had conceded only one try. England have made the second-fewest carries (108.8) for the second-fewest metres (461.3), they rank sixth for defenders beaten (22.5) and last for offloads (5.8).

Persons: Steve Borthwick, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Borthwick, Ford, Owen Farrell, Smith, Freddie Steward, Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Elliot Daly, Henry Arundell, Jamie George, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Harlequins, Samoa, Fijians, Defence, England, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, England, Chile, Samoa, Portugal

☆ We will be different team against Fiji, says England's George
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Last weekend wasn't good enough, it was poor, but we have had a really good open and honest review," George told reporters. You'll see a very different England team on Sunday." George, a British and Irish Lion and veteran of many big games with Saracens, said the England team were embracing the occasion as they seek to improve on their run to the final four years ago. Fiji have improved their all-round game, particularly the scrum, but their lineout still looks vulnerable and is an area England expect to dominate. "The way Portugal targeted their line-out was something that was very interesting and especially how they go about it," George said.

Persons: Jamie George, George, Danny Care, George Kruis, Steve Borthwick, Elliot Daly, we’ve, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Samoa, Fiji, Irish Lion, Saracens, England, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, British, Fiji, England, Portugal

☆ England coach sees new options after three flyhalves test
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LILLE, France, Sept 23 (Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick said playing three flyhalves for part of Saturday's 71-0 thrashing of Chile had brought a new dimension to his side that he could deploy again in future. "As I've been saying for quite a long period now I think this squad is packed full of talent and it's packed full of different options. The England coach also praised 20-year-old man of the match Henry Arundell, who equalled an England record of five tries. Saturday's victory means England have taken a decisive stride towards the quarter-finals. The England coach did not give hints on his team for their next test against the Samoans in two week's time, insisting the Chile match should not be viewed as a try out of reserves but instead as proof of the depth of England's squad.

Persons: Steve Borthwick, George Ford's, Marcus Smith, Borthwick, Ford, Owen Farrell, Smith, I've, Owen, George, Marcus, Henry Arundell, Tom Curry's, Philip Blenkinsop, Ken Ferris Organizations: LILLE, England, Samoans, Thomson Locations: France, England, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Samoa

☆ Five-try Arundell stars as England thrash Chile 71-0
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

England, who made 12 changes from the starting line-up against Japan, scored 11 tries, including five for 20-year-old winger Arundell that equalled an England record, albeit against the lowest ranked team in the tournament playing at their first World Cup. Samoa and Japan have five, Argentina four and Chile are yet to register after three defeats. It was one-way traffic by then and Arundell got his fourth, chipping and gathering his own kick. Chile showed touches of ambition in the first half but never really threatened and were chasing shadows after the break. Their coach Pablo Lemoine, who scored a try for Uruguay against England in that 2003 match, said: "I'm not really disappointed, that's reality.

Persons: Winger Arundell, debutants Smith, Winger Henry Arundell, Steve Borthwick, Arundell, Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith, Smith, Marcus, Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Matias Dittus, maul, Dan, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Farrell, England's, Josh Lewsey, Rory Underwood, Daniel Lambert, Ford, Jack Willis, Borthwick, Freddie Steward, Pablo Lemoine, Philip Blenkinsop, Ken Ferris, Clare Fallon Organizations: England, LILLE, Japan, Wales, Samoa, Ford, Fiji, France, Thomson Locations: France, England, Chile, Marseille, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Japan, Argentina, flyhalf, Uruguay

☆ Fantastic Ford kicks 14-man England to win over Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The drop-goals are always planned, it is a great weapon for us," Ford said. "We have had a bit of a rocky build-up to this World Cup but I think in the last 10 days there has been a different feeling to the place." The Pool D match had been billed as a massive challenge for England against a Pumas side who beat them at Twickenham last November. It was the fourth time in the last six games that England had had a man sent off. We have many World Cup first-timers and they will take a lesson of how we need to be ready when the whistle blows."

Persons: Ford, George Ford, Flyhalf Ford, Owen Farrell, Steve Borthwick, Curry, Cruz Mallia, Tomas Lavanni, GENERALSHIP Ford, Jonny Wilkinson’s, Borthwick, ", Rodrigo Bruni, Julian Montoya, Michael Cheika, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: England, Argentina, Pumas, Twickenham, Jonny Wilkinson’s England, Ford, Thomson Locations: Argentina, MARSEILLE, France, England, Japan, Fiji, Samoa, St Etienne

☆ Rugby-Curry Set to Start in England's World Cup Opener Against Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - England flanker Tom Curry is ready to start in their Rugby World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday after recovering from an ankle injury. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since May and missed all four of England's World Cup warm-up matches last month. Some of the suspensions that we've had over the last couple of weeks haven't helped," Sinfield added. "The back row changes we've had to make probably haven't helped too." The 10th edition of the World Cup starts on Friday with hosts France facing New Zealand and ends on Oct. 28.

Persons: Tom Curry, Kevin Sinfield, We've, He's, he's, Sinfield, We're, Steve Borthwick's, Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, we've, haven't, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Reuters, Rugby World, Argentina, BBC, Pumas Locations: England, Argentina, Marseille, Japan, Samoa, Chile, France, New Zealand, Gdansk

☆ England hit rock bottom with first-ever defeat by Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - England slumped to a 30-22 loss against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday to record their first-ever defeat by the visitors, leaving them in utter disarray ahead of the World Cup which kicks off next month in France. But winger Selestino Ravutaumada capped a scintillating display with a swerving run to send replacement Simione Kuruvoli over for the decisive score that sealed their victory and left England looking utterly broken. This win is for all the people back home in Fiji," Ravutaumada said as Fijian supporters gathered in a corner of Twickenham sang and waved their national flags in celebration of their historic win. Fiji meanwhile can look forward to a possible World Cup quarter-final or better if they can repeat Saturday's mature performance at the tournament in France. England meanwhile have just two weeks to find some kind of cohesion before an opening fixture against the dangerous Argentina on Sept. 9.

Persons: Jonny May, Ollie Lawrence, Manu Tuilagi, Habosi, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ravutaumada, Wonderwall, George Ford, Steve Borthwick, Eddie Jones, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Twickenham, Pacific Islanders, England, Saturday, Fijian Drua Super Rugby, Wales, Thomson Locations: England, France, Fiji, Argentina

☆ Rugby Union-Hatred of England is a powerful tool, says defence coach Sinfield
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sinfield built a strong bond with former Scotland lock Doddie Weir, who died in November from Motor Neurone Disease. "I understand that and I understand that that's quite common across the other nations as well," he told reporters. Asked if he thought that "hatred" could lift England's defence to a new level of intensity, he said: "I don't just think it's powerful defensively, I think it’s powerful right the way across. "I've been here (Twickenham) a number of times to watch Six Nations games as well. That 2003 team (England's Grand Slam and World Cup winners), there are some real heroes of mine in that team.

☆ Borthwick calls on England players to channel pain into Six Nations campaign
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 20 (Reuters) - Newly appointed England head coach Steve Borthwick said the team's players are "hurting" after their recent run of poor results, adding that he hopes to harness their frustration and turn it into fuel for a successful Six Nations campaign. "The thing that strikes me is how much the players are hurting," Borthwick told reporters on Monday. "We can all see that... and I have been in touch with players that I have known for a long, long time and I know how much they are hurting because they really, really care, want to do well. Borthwick accepted that the timing of his appointment was not ideal with the 2023 World Cup in France on the horizon. "That was certainly a consideration of the timing, I don't think anyone thinks the timing is ideal.

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