This is very scary.
Former Scotland and Lions rugby player John Beattie is interviewing a number of former rugby players who endured a number of concussive blows throughout their career to ascertain whether the playing of contact sports can lead to long-term brain damage.
Beattie made a documentary last year about the growing evidence of long-term brain injuries arising from contact sports and was subsequently contacted by former rugby players expressing fear that they may suffer from similar issues.
In the video below Beattie interviews John Shaw, who played 22 times for Glasgow Warriors between 1996 and 2000. In 2007, while playing with a Scottish Classics XV, Shaw suffered a heart attack. He has since recovered from the attack and is now a referee and the director of a scaffolding company.
As a player, Shaw was knocked out at least a dozen times and the impact of that appears to take its toll in the interview below:
Hi @brianmoore666 I thought you should see this, it's ex Glasgow pro player knocked out a dozen times or so https://t.co/ggYZuUn5pf
— John Beattie (@BBCJohnBeattie) February 16, 2016
Shaw describes his mind going blank as his brain having a "cut out moment" with unsettling familiarity.
See Also: Leinster Back Referee Over Farcical Concussion Incident In Schools Game
