Courtney Lawes comments regarding his recent injury have sparked worry after the England captain made his long-awaited comeback..
The powerhouse lock had been sidelined with a neck injury and made his first start since September in Northampton’s clash with Munster over the weekend.
Lawes received the all clear after brain scans, but some concussion experts aren’t convinced that Lawes is being advised correctly.
What Lawes said:
“I suppose it is quite worrying,” he said.
“At the same time, because I’d had a similar thing before and he explained to me that your vestibular system is to do with your eyes, your eyes and the back of your neck – it’s not to do with brain damage … to be honest I was more worried about what it means for the future because you hear a lot of stories but I spoke to the specialist again and said: ‘What does it mean for the future?’ and he reassured me and said it can increase your chances but not by much.
“Generally it’s your genetics which will determine if you get things like dementia and stuff like how much you’re drinking, other recreational things, and how healthy you keep yourself in later life.
“Because I’m pretty good on that stuff anyway that reassured me.”
Social reaction:
Founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation Chis Nowinksi wrote: “What England rugby captain Courtney Lawes was told after a head injury to get him back: “…it’s genetics which will determine if you get… dementia. How much you’re drinking… that reassured me.” Wow. This is NOT informed consent.”
Progressive Rugby, a lobby group comprised of expert medics, ex pro players, academics and coaches, responded: “We’d agree Courtney’s management appears to have been excellent Tom. The concern is the paragraph regarding ‘genetics/drinking/recreational things’ determining dementia. It suggests link between sub concussion dosage & neurodegenerative disease isn’t being discussed/acknowledged.”t
Another user responded, saying: “Doesn’t sound like the specialist has fully informed him at all.”
“Unreal. Are we in the 1980s ?- you’re alright lad, throw some dirt on it,” wrote another fan.
Time up at Saints?
‘My contract is not necessarily up this year, there’s options there,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for myself and my family.
‘I’d love to stay at Saints, at the same time you’ve got to find what’s best for yourself and your family, like Dan Biggar has done.
‘That’s the most important thing, especially when you’re getting a bit older. I think I’ll probably get one more contract out of myself, then call it a day at the end of that.’
JOIN THE RUCK:
Courtney Lawes Facts:
- Lawes was born on 23 February 1989 in Hackney, London, but grew up in the Northampton area
- He has featured for England in 11 successive Six Nations campaigns
- Lawes didn’t receive an email checking his availability for the British & Irish Lions 2021 tour because it was sent to an old email address
- The second-row and wife Jessica have four children – Nell, Teddy, and twin boys Otto and Hugo
- Lawes played an integral part in Saints securing both the Premiership and European Rugby Challenge Cup titles in 2014
Premiership’s highest paid player each season from 1998 to 2022
The Gallagher Premiership is now filled with players who earn astronomical salaries. Year upon year, wages for top players seem to skyrocket.
By how much? We’ve identified the highest-paid Premiership player for every season since the game went professional to find out.
To do so, we’ve undertook painstaking research to delve into newspaper archives to reveal the reported player wages.
Some seasons had multiple highest earners with players signing contracts at different times throughout the campaign but they’ve used the highest earner at the end of each season.
Got it? Good.
Let’s take a look at the results:
1997-1998: Va’aiga Tuigamala (Newcastle Falcons) – £80,000 per season
Embed from Getty Images1999-2000: Francois Pienaar (Saracens) – £85,000 per season
Embed from Getty Images2000-2001: Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks) – £180,000 per season
Embed from Getty Images