PHIL VICKERY PLEDGES BRAIN TO RESEARCH AFTER CTE DIAGNOSIS

Phil Vickery, former England rugby captain and member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side, has pledged to donate his brain for research into neurodegenerative disease following a probable diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The 50-year-old received the probable diagnosis two years ago, though CTE—believed to be caused by repeated brain injuries—can only be confirmed after death. Vickery won 73 caps for England and toured twice with the British and Irish Lions before retiring in 2010, having captained England at the 2007 World Cup.

Vickery is among more than 1,000 players involved in a concussion lawsuit against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Rugby Football League, alleging failure in their duty of care to protect those involved in the game. He has stated publicly that he has considered taking his own life but remains determined to ensure his brain can be used to advance understanding of brain injuries in sport. In an interview, Vickery described the experience of living with brain injury as constant and exhausting, saying the condition "weighs heavy" and "grinds at you all the time".

Steve Thompson, another member of England's 2003 World Cup squad, has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE and has stated he has no memory of the World Cup victory. The lawsuit has reached a critical stage, with hundreds of cases at risk of being dismissed due to alleged disclosure failures and claims that the lead solicitor provided "misleading evidence" to the court.