#12: Head for change - The revolution to inspire health for all rugby players and beyond with Alix Popham

Alix Popham is a former Wales international earning 33 caps and had a 13 year professional career with time at Newport, Leeds Tykes, Llanelli Scarletts and Brive.

During his career Alix’s entrepreneurial instincts prompted him to open a property portfolio and he even started his own company 8 total management whilst still playing. Fast forward to today Alix’s now runs another company HUB XV which specialises in bringing people together for work in world class sporting facilities. In this past year he has also invested time founding the charity ‘head for change’ which helps families from the rugby and football communities deal with some of the challenges of neurodenerative disease sustained as a result of playing rugby and football.

After getting diagnosed last year with probable CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and early onset dementia himself, he and a large group of over 300 former players are currently going through legal proceedings with rugby’s governing bodies with the aim to push through change to the way head injuries are managed going forward in the game of rugby.

In this conversation we talk about Alix's inspiring work he has been doing with other former rugby players to safeguard the players and the game going forward and the ways in which he has helped himself with his ongoing recovery from the brain injury sustained whilst playing. We discuss the importance of diet and exercise in improving health and managing his symptoms as well as giving up alcohol. We also talk about the importance of planning out your time to ensure you stay on top of the healthy habits and manage your boundaries to ensure you are not overdoing things. 

A truly inspiring conversation with an special man who is leading the charge for serious and hopefully long lasting change within the game of rugby to look after the future generations playing this sport, a massive thank you Alix! To follow Alix and to support his charity check it out below: 

https://www.headforchange.org.uk/

Finally, The Post Rugby Podcast would like to invite you to our Free Facebook Group - The Post Rugby Community to connect with other rugby players (current and retired) and like minded people to continue your journey to a happier and healthier life post rugby.

The time for raising awareness for improved physical and mental health in the game of rugby is over and the time for taking action is here. I hope you found some inspiration listening to the podcast today and are encouraged to take action by trying some of the things the guest talks about. See you next time :)