Former England star Ben Kay has delivered a stark warning over the future of rugby union, claiming the sport "might not be here in 50 years time" if player safety concerns are not addressed.
Kay, who played second row for England in their historic 2003 Rugby World Cup win, recently took part in a landmark study into brain injuries among rugby players. Hooker Steve Thompson, a teammate of Kay's during that World Cup win, has been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
Speaking in 2020, Thompson claimed that playing rugby left him with permanent brain damage, revealing he has "no recollection of winning the World Cup" and that he wishes he had "never turned professional". And while Kay was given the "all-clear" after his brain scan, the 46-year-old is massively concerned about the future of the sport.
