Lions and England hooker Luke Cowan Dickie has come in for substantial wave of backlash, following a misguided tweet from last night.
The Exeter Chiefs player tweeted out "How soft is rugby," in response to the red card given to his teammate Henry Slade for his tackle on Bulls fullback Kurt-Lee Arendse.
It was admittedly a harsh red, given that Slade's initial contact was on the shoulder before his arm slid up to the face of Arendse, who stands at just over 5 ft 9 in.
Andy Goode also tweeted his displeasure over the referee's decision, but it was the wording of Cowan Dickie's tweet - given the prevalence of dementia and brain injury among rugby players - which sparked backlash.
Huge Backlash To Luke Cowan Dickie Tweet
Never a red card for Henry Slade, ludicrous decision. First contact is on the shoulder and he slides up pic.twitter.com/BgTe8FCkJV
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 14, 2023
— Linebreak Rugby 🏳️⚧️🚂✊ (@LinebreakRugby) January 14, 2023
Saracens are the classless mob apparently https://t.co/nWsq2OAGqF
— SSA Fezcast (@Fezcast_SSA) January 14, 2023
Won't be taking advice from a fella who played on a team full of anti-vaxxers https://t.co/ExQUmKaWjj
— Adam Moursy (@adammoursy) January 14, 2023
Those with early-onset dementia would certainly disagree. Waking up and fearing you've forgotten your kids. Steve Thompson can't remember winning the RWC! https://t.co/Z4gBvkkQ6l
— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) January 15, 2023
Personally I solely partake in sports that actively encourage inflicting life changing brain injuries on other players to show how hard I am. https://t.co/T5Nu8vI1Q4
— Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) January 15, 2023
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Among the ex-players who have been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and are bringing a case against rugby union's governing bodies, is former Wales flanker Alix Popham.
"I still love rugby but it is a dangerous sport," he explains.
"There's lots that needs to be done to make rugby as safe as it possibly can [be].
"The season needs to be cut in half, the amount of contact players do during the week needs to be limited.
"They have brought in guidelines but, speaking to current players, nobody is sticking to those current guidelines.
"I was [playing during] one of the first years of professional rugby.
"I went from training on a Tuesday, Thursday and playing on a Saturday to training every day, nine to five, and we did so much contact.
"Every day when we were doing contact sessions and we were seeing stars and had to have sniffing salts or spray water in your face to come round, they were traumatic brain injuries which were causing damage and needed the correct rest to give my brain time to heal.
"That's what current players are still not doing."
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