I’m paying the price for pro rugby: Derick Hougaard

[rpm]

Former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard has been advised to undergo an MRI scan on his brain.

The former Blue Bulls pivot said he has been forgetting things in the last while, and that his “head hasn’t always been too clear”.

According to Netwerk24, a specialist advised him to undergo a scan to determine what’s wrong.

“All the head injuries and knocks I took on the rugby field are now catching up with me. A lot of ex-players will probably walk the same road,” said Hougaard.

He was admitted to the Park Lane Hospital in Johannesburg on Tuesday where he underwent an MRI scan and blood tests.

The results could be made available as soon as Wednesday.

“I’m convinced it’s not serious, but it makes one feel uneasy. I’m still young and have a lot that I still want to do in life.”

Hougaard, 32, played eight Tests for the Springboks between 2003 and 2007. He also played for Leicester Tigers and Saracens in England and is nowadays a commentator and pundit for pay-channel, SuperSport.

Sport24 - http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Ex-Bok-undergoes-brain-scans-20150527

 

[Stevi]

Imagine how messed up Schalk's head must be? :wtf:

 

[thestaggy]

Sounds like CTE, same thing going on with ex and some current players in American Football. Wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing more rugby players coming out that suffer with similar cognitive ailments.

Junior Seau, who committed suicide in May, two years after retiring as one of the premier linebackers in NFL history, suffered from the type of chronic brain damage that has also been found in dozens of deceased former players, five brain specialists consulted by the National Institutes of Health concluded.

Seau's ex-wife, Gina, and his oldest son, Tyler, 23, told ABC News and ESPN in an exclusive interview they were informed last week that Seau's brain had tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression.

Jovan Belcher case;

In December 2013 his body was exhumed from the North Babylon cemetery at the request of his family to conduct tests on whether he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). On December 31, 2013, Belcher's mother filed a wrongful death suit in Missouri state court against her son's former team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The suit claims "In the months leading up to Defedent's death, Defendant was aware of Decedent's symptoms and signs of cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment. Defendant micromanaged virtually every aspect of Decedent's life when it came to his physical abilities to perform in the workplace, including analyzing his diet, speed, strength and body-mass index. Yet when it came to monitoring Decedent's mental health and neurological capacities, Defendant disregarded evidence of impairments and fostered an environment where Decedent was required to play through his injuries and become exposed to further neurological harm."

On September 29, 2014, ESPN released a report completed by a medical examiner determined that Belcher suffered from CTE.

Dave Duerson case;

Duerson was found dead at his Sunny Isles Beach, Florida home on February 17, 2011. The Miami-Dade County medical examiner reported that Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He sent a text message to his family saying he wanted his brain to be used for research at the Boston University School of Medicine, which is conducting research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease, which can be caused by playing professional football. He left behind three sons and a daughter from his marriage to ex-wife Alicia Duerson.

On May 2, 2011, neurologists at Boston University confirmed that he suffered from CTE, which is linked to concussions.

Mike Webster;

After retirement, Webster suffered from amnesia, dementia, depression, and acute bone and muscle pain.

After death, Mike Webster was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease. Webster was the first former NFL player diagnosed with CTE. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist, examined tissue from Webster and eight other NFL players and determined they all showed the kind of brain damage previously seen in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, as well as in some retired boxers.

 

[Pitbull]

Lol?

Derick was what? 23 when he stopped playing? And he played Flyhalf... Now he blames rugby for his lack of memory...
What about players like Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger and the likes who take massive hits and suffer endless concussions. They are fine from what I can see and they still playing.

 

[thestaggy]

Lol?

Derick was what? 23 when he stopped playing? And he played Flyhalf... Now he blames rugby for his lack of memory...
What about players like Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger and the likes who take massive hits and suffer endless concussions. They are fine from what I can see and they still playing.

As is the case in the States, ''macho men'' playing contact sports rarely admit to injuries until they're drooling all over themselves.

 

[Agent_Smith]

That hit from Brian Lima at the 2003 RWC finally catching up with him?

[video=youtube;uxLoS0k-68g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLoS0k-68g[/video]

He probably still hasn't forgiven Joost for that pass.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Lol?

Derick was what? 23 when he stopped playing? And he played Flyhalf... Now he blames rugby for his lack of memory...
What about players like Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger and the likes who take massive hits and suffer endless concussions. They are fine from what I can see and they still playing.

More like 30, I think? He played for Leicester and Saracens after leaving the Bulls in '08. Played there until 2012.

 

[Pitbull]

More like 30, I think? He played for Leicester and Saracens after leaving the Bulls in '08. Played there until 2012.

You're right. I apologise

 

[Stevi]

That hit from Brian Lima at the 2003 RWC finally catching up with him?

[video=youtube;uxLoS0k-68g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLoS0k-68g[/video]

He probably still hasn't forgiven Joost for that pass.

I miss the Chiropractor and his huge hits

 

[Picard]

Rugby is a stupid game ... within a modern sociological context (with sub-sections of physiological and psychological results).

Economics and finance and to a certain extent, just plain pure barbaric entertainment, is over-riding sentiments like mine.

 

[HavocXphere]

One of the reasons why I don't get why so many SA dads are so proud of their rugby playing 15 year olds...

By all means do sport & pick a full contact one...but not rugby or boxing.

Why not something like handball...2nd fastest full contact sport (after hockey)

 

[Hamster]

Rugby is a stupid game ... within a modern sociological context (with sub-sections of physiological and psychological results).

Economics and finance and to a certain extent, just plain pure barbaric entertainment, is over-riding sentiments like mine.

/takes man card ... within the testosterone context

 

[Picard]

This will probably be my last post (give or take 2 or 3 posts ... to wrap things up ... after 7 - 8 years) on this web site.

Rugby Union should start to be more like Rugby League .... Scrums are stupid.

 

[Hamster]

This will probably be my last post (give or take 2 or 3 posts ... to wrap things up ... after 7 - 8 years) on this web site.

Rugby Union should start to be more like Rugby League .... Scrums are stupid.

What?!

 

[Sneeky]

Eish, wish him well and hope it's nothing serious. He was a good servant of the game.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

One of the reasons why I don't get why so many SA dads are so proud of their rugby playing 15 year olds...

By all means do sport & pick a full contact one...but not rugby or boxing.

Why not something like handball...2nd fastest full contact sport (after hockey)

But they're not full contact?

 

[HavocXphere]

But they're not full contact?

But they are...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_sport#Full-contact

 

[Hemi300c]

Hopefully he's ok. Many many more out there where the injuries and consequences still to show.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

But they are...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_sport#Full-contact

Hmm, guess it depends on definition. Putting hockey and rugby in the same category seems daft to me. In rugby you have to play the player, in hockey you play the ball, with the possible side effect of contact with a player.