Questionnaire

Before I start to carry on with further research, I created a questionnaire to ask current and retired rugby players there views on concussions and MND to rugby and to see what they would like to see done to showcase this an educate people. I asked a series of questions such as:

Have you experienced these symptoms?

Do you think there is a link between rugby, having multiple concussion to Motor Neuron Disease? If yes, please state why

• Yes as rugby is a contact sport and your head if I’m wrong position or the tackle technique is wrong you can easily get concussed. And if constantly bashing your head is just not good which could cause motor neurone disease.
• Potentially, it would depend on how often you participate and how often you end up with head collisions or head injuries. However, I think the comparative is slight and rugby governing bodies (I believe) are trying to improve the contact area to reduce head injuries, so hopefully there will be less reason to connect the sport to brain damaging diseases.
• Yes, repeated head trauma which impacts the brain.
• Yes I believe so. Constant knocks on the head can cause a number of different long term brain injuries with MND being one
• Yes, brain controls your body keep damaging it will surely cause long term effects
• I think any contact sport that is highly aggressive could lead to it
• Maybe, just because the amount of athletes that have got MND

• Yes. The amount of contact with the head in a match must constitute towards long term injury
• Yes, the head collisions must be linked
• Yes, repeated head injuries/collisions due to rugby must impact the brain.Yes, there must be a link between blows to the head and MND but it’s the nature of the beast, we can only prevent head collision so much with out the sport being ruined, every person who puts on a jersey and crosses that white line understand the risk that comes with it but they wouldn’t change it for the world
• I don’t know enough to give a good response
• Because there’s evidence to show brain trauma links with rugby and other contact sports
• I think it can yes but not always
• To my understanding MND is has genetic causes.Yes, Joost Van and Dodddie
• Yes, have seen some research on it
• Yes, concussion is essentially damage to the head/brain so increased amounts of this could have mainly unseen or even unfelt effects.It’s funny, I played rugby and basketball from a young age up until I was 18. Never had a concussion playing rugby (that I knew of) but had multiple playing basketball. I haven’t done much research into the topic but there has to be some fact to it.Yes due to the repeated blows to the head

• I think it’s luck of the draw/ chance
• Possibly Yes, because there are studies which prove this.Yes, I have seen scientific research provided by Bennet Omalu. He also suggests that there is strong link between multiple concussions and CTE.Potentially Inconclusive Motor neurones I’ve not heard about. Vascular dementia possibly
• Yes, but i believe there are multiple factors
• Medicine hasn’t been asking these questions for long enough although there is most certainly a link
• I’m not sure, I feel high level contact yes maybe but also genuine fit individuals are generally physically healthier so it could be the luck of the draw.Yes, any knock to the head that causes a concussion is bound to leave damage
• Yes – concussions are bound to happen in rugby and if this happens multiple times without proper recovery I imagine this would not be good for the brain.Yes, too many bumps to your head must have a link between the two
• Possibly but further research would be requiredNot just specifically rugby but common trauma to the head can cause it yes.Not that I know off
• Yes – multiple head collisions leading to an increased chance

• Potentially so, due to the impact you incur to your head

Do you think there should be more information on this matter? If yes, please state how and why

• Yes as this is a fairly new topic in the sport which in the future could affect someone health
• I think yes in the case that players may be more cautious when attempting to tackle opposition players and when engaging in training circumstances to ensure they are technically correct in their tackling and safe. On the other hand I think people should be aware, but not to the extent that it would push them away from playing the game, because they may construe it as unsafe.
• Adverts through social media players and doctors touring local clubs at all levels.
• Yes as it’s important to keep players as protected and informed as possible
• Yes because then people will know to look out for early signs and symptoms
• Yes should be given at the start of a season so people can spot signs and symptoms
• Yes, just more information on the risks of head injuries in rugby. It’s not really spoke about throughout the clubsSafety of children
• Yes, more support from World Rugby
• No everyone should know risks of heavy repeated blows to the head by now.Yes, information and discussions at wry and club level believe there should be more information on this topic but there’s only so much prevention we can do to such a physical sport, good technique can only play the role so much it’s the after care which needs to be put in place if you can’t prevent you must provide a service!Yes, there should be an academic study to look at all the information to see if there is any correlation
• Yes for safety and welfarenoI think we need to learn more about it and it’s affects on sports where concussion is a part of the game, we should test more professional athletes.If info was relevant it should be shared to coaches to ass onto grass roots players
• No there is a lot of information now
• Yes, think it should be more publicly mentioned
• Yes – greater research into concussion/head trauma and MND
• Improving safety and knowledge is always beneficial
• Yeh for sure. I think explaining concussions and the long term effects are important. It wouldn’t have stopped me playing any of my sports but it might have stopped someone else. Atleast the option would be there for them.Yes as it’s stopping some people from playing rugbyMore in the lower level league but the top end of the game is good
• Depends on what level of rugby is being played. Top level semi pro, pro there is a lot of information given regarding this natter
• Yes, players and governing bodies must put an emphasis on educating those involved in sport (especially contact sports) on the dangers of concussion.Yes, research is always helpful in understanding the impacts of certain things and how they effect people
• Yes, research emailed to every registered player through the WRU. Ensure player safety and that players understand they are at risk at their own free will.Yes- concussion even in medical centres is poorly dealt with- the the concept of CTE is normally ignored
• Yes, teaching our minies (under 15)Yes, could be helpful for others suffering with this issue
• Yes, to grow awareness of the implications that the game can have and to introduce new rules and laws
• Yes, any information is beneficial to a sports person to aid the protection of themselves. Delivered through presentations at club level and in grass routes, or a compulsory ‘lecture’ to take on the WRU website
• I think for coaches definitely to ensure precautions are taken
• Yes, only because of health and safety. At the end of the day if you go into any contact sports the is a risk of injury.Yes – the better knowledge players have of symptoms of concussions the better protected they will be
• Yes to educate one self
• Yes. further research. Players are getting bigger and stronger and the contact area is now a key part of the game. We may not see the consequences of this for years to come so a greater understanding is required now to prevent those who participate from being unsafe
• Yes, more player information and ability to self diagnose. HIA protocol to be shared at a local level.

• Yes – apart from the usual WRU handouts, there should be WRU representatives having meeting with teams of all importance to stress the importance
• Yes. Information should be given at school level to make people more aware of the problem.I’d like it to be included in all ages of rugby
• Yes. I feel this should be communicated through school and rugby clubs

There was a total of 69 responses, and doing this survey has been extremely helpful to understand what rugby would like to see something done on this matter. As a graphic designer, sometimes you need to ask the public what they would want and like to see done for a particular topic which is always extremely helpful to a graphic designer. The client is basically the public and designing something for them which is basically the whole purpose for this project.