ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Fuimaono-Sapolu shares old tweets calling out World Rugby on CTE

BY Grant Constable  ·  Wednesday Dec 9, 2020

Former Samoa, Bath and Gloucester centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has retweeted previous posts he shared in 2017 accusing World Rugby of covering up “the horrible effects of CTE brain injury”. 

ADVERTISEMENT

This comes after it was revealed this week that a group of former internationals, which includes England’s Steve Thompson and Michael Lipman, and Wales’ Alix Popham, are planning legal action for negligence against the rugby authorities over brain injuries they have suffered. 

Fuimaono-Sapolu retweeted two posts he made about chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain condition that is thought to be a result of repeated blows to the head. 

The 40-year-old shared a Tweet from October 2017, where he said “I stopped rugby to protect whatever brain cells I have left. World Rugby have covered up the horrible effects of CTE brain injury.” 

He also posted another Tweet from February 2018, where he urged parents to “read about this neurodegenerative [CTE] disease before enrolling your child in rugby”. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Thompson, 42, Popham, 41, and Lipman, 40, are all suffering from early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with the former hooker Thompson revealing he has no recollection of winning the World Cup with England in 2003. 

Richard Boardman, the lawyer representing the group of players in their case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, has said that rugby faces a dementia epidemic amongst retired professionals without changes to the game. 

Throughout his career, Fuimaono-Sapolu was not afraid to confront World Rugby, particularly during the 2011 World Cup regarding the treatment of Samoa, but in light of this legal action against World Rugby, he may have been ahead of the curve.

RELATED VIEWING: 

Related Articles

  • 33 WEEKS AGO

    Tickets now on sale as World XV set to face...

  • 33 WEEKS AGO

    '60 metres, plus change' - massive drop goal...

  • 33 WEEKS AGO

    Referee makes 'tackle of the season' as he...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans praise 'Dom Perignon Rugby' as Irish players prepare for final match of South African tour

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    The rugby guy and Mack Hansen drop an all time BANGER with latest video

View All

Amateur

  • 98 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 98 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Anthony Watson exclusive: 'I wouldn't be surprised if England win'

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    It’s a 9.5/10 for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

View All