Shane Williams starred in documentary Shane Williams: Rugby, Concussion and Me, that aired on BBC One Wales. On air, he underwent a brain scan to reveal the damage his beloved rugby career had caused.
Looking back over his successful career, Shane admitted: “I’ve definitely been concussed.”
He recalled the time he played a match in South Africa in 2004: “I got round Bakkies Botha, and he hit me so hard in the back that I think almost whiplashed the back of my head on his shoulder.”
Remembering another incident in 2010, he added: “I got dumped to the ground by François Steyn.
However, some signs may not be obvious until a few days later.
Symptoms of a concussion include a headache that isn’t relieved with painkillers, dizziness, nausea and memory loss.
It’s possible not to remember what happened immediately before or after the brain injury.
Some people may experience some trouble with balance, or fewer stunned, dazed or confused.
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Additional symptoms may include sudden mood swings and becoming easily irritated.
Changes in vision may appear, such as blurred vision, double vision or “seeing stars”.
You may also be knocked out or struggle to stay awake.
Speaking of his own response to injuries while playing the sport, Shane said: “It’s a tough man’s sport so you just have to get back on your feet and play on.
“More and more in the last decade or so, we’ve understood that deep down inside the brain what’s happening is actual structural damage.”
Shane added: “It’s quite scary after the career I’ve had.”
Happy with his own brain scan results, he said: “Thankfully, I was alright.”
But the 43-year-old noted the importance of protecting your head during contact sports: “We’re bringing in laws, tackle laws, penalty laws, which says to me we are going in the right way.”
