For the Love of the Game

A portrait project focused on concussion in sport

For the Love of the Game

Works from this project were entered to Royal Photographic Society and shortlisted for the IPE 167.

For the Love of the Game is a portrait project focused on concussion in sport partnering with Sam Peters, an award-winning author and former journalist, who spearheaded the Mail on Sunday’s acclaimed concussion in rugby campaign.

The benefits of sport are myriad, from health and fitness to teamwork and communication. However sports related concussions are a significant health concern; since rugby union went professional run 1996, concussion has increased more than 600%. Immediate dangers of concussion are severe brain swelling and traumatic brain injury (TBI) while short term effects include headaches, confusion, and amnesia with longer term effects being worse cognitive function later in life and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The aim of the project is to promote awareness and education of the risks of concussion, encourage better paths to recovery and the safe return to play protocols, especially in children whose brains are still developing and who are more vulnerable to injury.

Some, but by no means all, of those featured in the project have been diagnosed with neurodegenerative problems, while it remains unclear how much playing contact sport contributed to those who have.

For the Love of the Game Steve Thompson English former rugby union player who represented his country 73 times, diagnosed with early onset dementia

For the Love of the Game Alison Kervin OBE portrait of the first female in the UK to become sports editor of a major national newspaper

For the Love of the Game Alix Popham, Welsh former rugby union player, diagnosed with probable CTE and early onset dementia as a result of traumatic brain injury developed in his rugby career.

For the Love of the Game Prof Bill Ribbans, portrait of the Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Sports Medicine

For the Love of the Game Melanie Bramwell-Popham founding Trustee of Head for Change and wife to Alix Popham

For the Love of the Game Lenny Woodard, former dual-code Welsh international rugby player and the highest try scorer in Welsh rugby league history, diagnosed with early onset dementia aged 45 years old.

For the Love of the Game Prof Mike Loosemore MBE, portrait of the Lead Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and Director and Co- Founder Marylebone Health (CHHP) London.

For the Love of the Game Kat Merchant English former rugby union player who represented her country 58 times and scored 44 tries, suffered over 30 concussions during her career.

For the Love of the Game Peter Winterbottom MBE rugby union player, Harlequins, England, British & Irish Lions

For the Love of the Game Sir Clive Woodward OBE portrait of the renowned English former rugby union player and elite-level coach, best known for guiding England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

For the Love of the Game Rich Coates, former rugby player diagnosed with probable CTE and early-onset dementia aged 40 years old. Co-founder and CEO of Marshalling Brain Injuries Alliance.

For the Love of the Game Sam Peters, rugby writer credited with driving cultural change to the sport's attitude towards head injuries and concussion

For the Love of the Game David Sole OBE rugby union player, Edinburgh Academical, Scotland, British & Irish Lions

For the Love of the Game Nic O'Leary, former rugby player who suffered a severe brain injury at age 16 years old.

Concussion in sport

For the Love of the Game has focused on concussion in sport, namely in the sport of rugby union which has seen an increase of 600% since the sport turned professional in 1996. The project has included international players, both male and female, coaches, sports scientists, nutritionalists, friends and loved ones and other interested people and bodies looking to make sport safer. With the commercial value of sports and sports brands, there is more pressure than ever for elite athletes to take to the field in order to attract as many eyeballs and viewers as possible. Where is the duty of care, the legal obligation to act with reasonable care and skill to avoid causing foreseeable harm to others, compared to commercial contracts worth millions a year or hundreds of millions over the course of the contract?

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Lewis Moody MBE portrait of the retired English rugby union player and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner

Why For the Love of the Game?

Andy’s interest in concussion and bringing the risks to a wider public comes from his potential double risk of exposure to concussion.

Andy started playing full contact rugby when he was eight years old. He played at school, at university, and when he joined the British Army, earning his half colours when he attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. His playing career came to an end not long after earning his commission when he dislocated his shoulder twice in a short space of time during a single match.

In addition to the risk of suffering concussion through sport, Andy served in the Royal Artillery. Artillery fire is known to cause high pressure blast waves which themselves cause mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) known as blast-induced TBI or subconcussive brain trauma, even without a direct blow to the head.

For the Love of the Game Carl Hamans, former rugby player diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic encephalopathy (CTE) aged 52 years old.

For the Love of the Game Steve Sugar, former rugby player diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI), including memory loss and anxiety.

For the Love of the Game Dr Willie Stewart portrait of the Consultant Neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow

For the Love of the Game Andrew Watkins, lifelong friend of Cae Trayhern- a former Pontypool player who suffered at least 11 known concussions and took his own life in 2016.

For the Love of the Game Nathan Howarth, Executive Director at the Concussion & CTE Foundation UK

For the Love of the Game Jen Coates, co-founder and CEO of Marshalling Brain Injuries Alliance.

For the Love of the Game Tom Kohler- Cadmore portrait of the English professional cricketer who plays for Somerset

For the Love of the Game Dr Lisa Ryan portrait of the Head of School of Health, Sport Science and Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University

For the Love of the Game Tim Fleiszer portrait of the Canadian former professional football defensive lineman and Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

For the Love of the Game Steve Phillips, former Wales age-grade international rugby player, naturopathic nutritionist, educator, and advocate for integrative health.

For the Love of the Game Nick Greenhalgh portrait of the former professional rugby player and Co-founder & CEO at Luca Health