News

The Rugby Players Association (RPA) has partnered with Dementia UK to launch a new pilot programme, funded by Restart (the official charity of the RPA), providing specialist support to retired players and their families affected by dementia.

At the heart of the partnership is a dedicated Admiral Nurse clinic service offering access to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse for the retired elite rugby playing community. The service will offer free, confidential appointments to former players, as well as their families, who are living with dementia.

The clinic will be delivered by Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, who are specialist dementia nurses trained to support both individuals and families through the challenges of the condition.

Through one-to-one appointments by phone or video, players and their families will be able to access expert advice, practical support and emotional guidance in a safe and confidential environment.

Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, with more than one million people estimated to be living with the condition in the UK today. The new service aims to help those affected from elite rugby, particularly when facing complex and often overwhelming situations.

The clinic will provide support across a wide range of areas, including understanding symptoms and diagnosis, managing changes in behaviour, and navigating the realities of caring for a loved one with dementia.

Richard Bryan, RPA Player Welfare Director, said: “The RPA is pleased to launch this pilot programme, with the support of Restart and in partnership with Dementia UK, to offer the Admiral Nurse service to retired elite and professional rugby union players. Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses are highly regarded within the elite sport community, with programmes running in football and rugby league, and we believe they will provide a vital service to former players living with dementia.”

Joe Costello, Dementia UK's Consultant Admiral Nurse for Sport and Dementia, said: “We're delighted to partner with the RPA to offer this service to retired elite rugby players. Dementia is a challenging and progression condition which impacts those living with it and their families. Through these appointments, retired players will have access to the specialist support Admiral Nurses offer on all aspects of the condition - from concerns about initial symptoms to advice on living well with the condition following a diagnosis.”

The service will be available to former professional male players and professional or elite female players who have played in England, as well as their families and close contacts.

This pilot marks an important step in strengthening the support available to players beyond their playing careers, ensuring they and their families have access to specialist care when they need it most.

The Admiral Nurse service will provide an additional support offering alongside the existing Advanced Brain Health Clinic, funded by PREM Rugby and the RFU, which delivers free, fully confidential clinical assessments for former elite players with concerns about their brain health.