Mike Tindall shares fear of brain damage after rugby friend Steve Thompson lost his memory early

Mike Tindall appeared with Vernon Kay, Johannes Radebe and Roman Kemp to host the all-male version of Loose Women, dubbed Loose Men, on Thursday

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Mike Tindall reveals fear of brain damage after concussion in rugby

Mike Tindall has shared about his fear of suffering from brain damage complications after a successful career as a rugby player.

The former rugby player, 43, said the link between multiple blows to the head from playing rugby and early dementia was a concern for his health.

Appearing on Loose Women’s men’s special panel, Mike mentioned fellow former rugby player Steve Thompson, who has been open about his struggles with dementia.

The 43-year-old sports star revealed he couldn’t remember most of his career and sometimes forgot the names of his wife and children after he was diagnosed with early dementia in November 2020.

Mike said he’s spoken to Steve several times in the past week, after he revealed he was recently placed on a suicide watch because his dementia had brought him to the brink of despair.

Mike said: “Nowadays, rugby is going through a bit of a change through everything around it mentally and traumatically and that leads.

“That’s what got me going beyond being healthy and playing the sport I played. Are any of them visible to me? Then it is proactive to go and really check. “

Loose Men host Vernon Kay asked Mike if he’d ever go for a CT or MRI scan, and Mike said he would.

“I think it’s important,” he said. There are a lot of former professionals doing it to create a bigger picture.

“The whole protocol has changed, but it’s mostly about making sure you’re healthy.”

There are growing calls for the Rugby League to introduce mandatory limits on exposure in training to reduce the risk of current and future players developing Steven-like problems after their careers. their.

The Rugby Union previously responded to reports of the incident: “Rugby League is a contact sport and, although there is an element of risk in playing any sport, But the player’s welfare is always paramount.

“Thanks to scientific knowledge, the sport of rugby continues to improve and evolve its concussion approach, head injury assessment, education, management and prevention throughout the game. .”

Vernon and Mike appear in an all-male takeover of Loose Women to mark Mental Health Awareness Week alongside Dancing serious team expert Johannes Radebe and radio DJ Roman Kemp .

Vernon hosted a special edition of the ITV morning show, called Loose Men, during the fourth all-male panel that will feature on the show.

The panel discussed the importance of men speaking out about their mental health to mark the week.