Nick Fozzard: There are people who knew we could get brain injuries and they didn’t protect us!

Broken limbs, broken eye sockets, knee structures and a broken jaw were among the occupational hazards of playing professional rugby league for Nick Fozzard.

He did so for 19 years, a rugged prop forward who enjoyed a distinguished career with Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves, St Helens, Hull KR, Castleford Tigers and Dewsbury Rams.

Fozzard estimates he also suffered between 20 and 40 concussions during his playing days and, tragically, the 45-year-old was recently diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

For some time now, he has been experiencing memory loss, impulsiveness, and other behavioral changes that have affected his relationships with friends and family.

The Yorkshireman underwent a full brain scan last year and said: ‘The damage to my brain turned out to be some of the worst the specialists had ever seen.

“Everyone is deteriorating at different rates, so it’s a matter of moving forward and hoping for the best.”

‘I’ve completely stopped alcohol, exercise regularly and lead the healthiest lifestyle possible, which can help enormously when living with a brain injury.

“I go to the brain injury clinic at least once a month and it is important not to isolate yourself. I see other ex-players who don’t want to socialize anymore because a brain injury changes your personality.’

Fozzard made a good living from rugby league but believes more could have been done to make the game safer during play.

He has subsequently joined a lawsuit involving more than 335 former league and union players who have suffered brain injuries from playing their sport and intend to seek compensation from the rugby governing bodies in England and Wales.

Ninety of that group are from the 13-a-side code and are taking possible action against the Rugby Football League for negligence due to brain injuries they suffered.

“Rugby league is a very brutal game where people try to intimidate you physically, mentally and emotionally,” says Fozzard.

“We were all drawn to it because of its physical nature and knew we were going to get hurt. But I didn’t know that it would give me permanent, progressive brain damage. I think there are people who knew that and didn’t protect us from ourselves.’

Fozzard estimates that he suffered an average of two concussions per season during each year of his career.

Significantly, he believes that much more care for the player could have prevented the kind of brain injury he suffered.

“You get a blow to the head, but then you’re doused with the ‘magic sponge’ and told to get back on the field,” he says. “As a 19-year-old I once suffered a concussion with a badly broken nose and was bullied for weeks afterwards.

“Getting off with head punches was considered soft and you were put under a lot of pressure by the coach to stay on the pitch. I once crashed into someone’s elbow so hard it broke my cheekbone, tore my eye ligaments, and gave me a concussion.

“I left and played two weeks later because they didn’t do any tests on me. I didn’t find out I had those injuries until three months later when a metal plate was removed from my jaw. Part of the care was not there, certainly in that case.’

Fozzard entered addiction rehab in 2012 and successfully received treatment funded by Rugby League charity Rugby League Cares. He now works for a construction company, has two children aged 10 and 11 and a loving partner.

He says, “If you ask my ex-wife, my brain injury and resulting behavior could have been one of the factors in the failure of our marriage. But my friend Deborah is an absolute superstar, she understands that I have a brain injury that I now have to live with.’

Former Leeds captain Stevie Ward has been battling persistent symptoms following a concussion after suffering two head injuries in 2020, forcing him to retire.

Other high-profile former league stars such as Sam Burgess and James Graham have also spoken publicly about their fears of possible brain damage.

Fozzard, a popular rugby league figure, says he was reluctant to take part in the legal process and fears being ‘blacklisted’ from a game he loves.

Bobbie Goulding, Francis Maloney, Michael Edwards, Jason Roach and Ryan MacDonald are among the former players seeking legal action.

Fozzard says: ‘Francis and Bobbie have been banned from rugby league and many ex-rugby union players have been similarly blacklisted.

“Some ex-league players have taken the moral tour de force and dismissed the lawsuit, while some don’t want to be scanned and know if they have brain injuries, they’ve buried their heads in the sand.

“Other guys don’t want to be kicked out of the game. I think I run the risk of doing that, but I have my reasons for doing so.

“When you play rugby league you expect to get injured but all you want is to be looked after afterwards. There should be no contact during training and what I find sad is how players were taken care of when they suffered a headbutt.

“If the game had happened earlier, our injuries could have been prevented or at least reduced.”

The RFL introduced stricter rules last year to minimize the risk of head injuries with higher penalties for high tackles. Last season also increased the number of days from seven to eleven days before players can return after a concussion.

The governing body says they have no immediate plans to follow the Rugby Football Union in lowering the tackle height, but are conducting a major investigation into ways to make the game safer.

A spokesman for the RFL said: ‘The RFL takes the safety and welfare of players extremely seriously, and it is very sad to hear about player issues.

“While there is risk in playing any sport, the well-being of players is always of the utmost importance. As a result of scientific knowledge, the sport of rugby league continues to improve and develop its approach to concussion, head injury assessment, education, management and prevention throughout the game. Support for former professional players is always available from Rugby League’s charity partner RL Cares.’