It comes as no shock to anyone reading that rugby is a sport of grit, power, and relentless physicality. For some, however, it is more than just a sport – it is a future, a passion, and an identity. So what happens when all of that is taken from you in one blow?
Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Barney Davies, a former rugby player at Leeds Beckett University on a promising trajectory towards semi-professional rugby. But the sport that had given him so much ultimately took more than he ever anticipated.
Barney’s story is one of resilience, pain, and the long road to understanding the invisible injuries that come with concussions. His first major concussion happened in a sevens tournament. He remembers going up for a high ball, taking a hit to the head, but brushing it off. He played two more games that season, ignoring symptoms that were already creeping in. Dizziness, confusion, sensitivity to noise and light – he dismissed it all, training the following week as if nothing had happened. After all, in this sort of sport, isn’t getting concussed just part of the deal?
For Barney, it was after a night out that things took a darker turn. An altercation broke out involving one of Barney’s friends, and in stepping in to help, he ended up taking nearly twenty blows to the head. As he recounted the story, I caught the waitress glancing at me, likely mistaking my expression for dissatisfaction with her coffee – when in reality, I was simply stunned to learn that Barney had also lost half a tooth during that fight. The next day, he chalked up his dizziness and disorientation to being hungover and even went for a run with his brother. But in reality, his brain had taken more damage than he realised. The symptoms worsened – balance issues, tinnitus, the sensation of the room spinning even while standing. But instead of stopping, he tells me about how he “pushed forward, determined to make the starting lineup” There’s a hint of regret in his voice. “Like an idiot”, he adds.
“I wasn’t smart about it,” he admits. “I kept trying to force my way through it, being the tough macho man I was. It’s just what we did in rugby.” The culture of pushing through injuries is deeply ingrained in contact sports. But while a broken leg is visible; a concussion is not. When Barney suffered another head injury in preseason, he knew what was happening but ignored it. “I was captain at that point so I felt pressure to play. I started having panic attacks because I knew I was damaging myself, but I just didn’t feel like I could give up.” The irony is painfully clear – how often do players see staying in the game as the ultimate act of dedication, only to sacrifice their own health and, ultimately, their entire rugby career?
Within two minutes of his first match of the season, Barney took a massive hit and was knocked out. The physio asked him three questions: “where are we, what’s the score, is your neck okay?” The answers were right in front of him, so he passed the test and played the rest of the game. After his first match of the season having been knocked out, he made 16 tackles, 16 carries. But when the adrenaline wore off, he told his friends, “I think I need to go to the hospital.” He never did.
It’s been over two years since Barney last stepped onto a rugby pitch, yet he still experiences symptoms from his injuries. In his ongoing journey to alleviate them and improve his brain health, a source of hope arrived at his doorstep in September – small shot bottles labeled “CONKA.” “It’s amazing,” he says. “The most consistent mental clarity I’ve had. I sleep better. I feel calmer.” He hadn’t known what to expect, but the results spoke for themselves. “The fact that it’s replaced my need for caffeine is my personal favorite feature of the product.”
Today, Barney is working to ensure young athletes don’t make the same mistakes he did. He coaches rugby in schools, working with kids from Year 7 to Year 13. While he doesn’t directly address concussions in his coaching, he subtly weaves awareness into his training. “There’s still pushback,” he says. “The return-to-play protocols are great, but there’s a human error aspect. A lot of coaches don’t understand concussions, and kids will lie to stay on the field. They don’t want to let their team down.”
For Barney, the journey is far from over. He still has questions, still wants to learn more, still wants to make a difference. If there's one crucial lesson to learn from his experience, it's this: the hardest thing a player can do isn't to push through an injury – it is recognising the importance of stepping back and prioritising long-term health. Understanding concussions and taking the necessary precautions, like using tools such as CONKA, are essential steps in protecting both your immediate well-being and future. Don't wait for the signs – stay informed and take control of your health.
But there's a second lesson, too: when life throws you lemons... Barney’s resilience and determination to turn his experience into something positive is truly inspiring. His story is a reminder that setbacks don’t have to define us – they can push us to create change, help others, and make a lasting impact.
Leticia Hosang, BSc
Leticia is a sports science, sports psychology and neuroscience researcher, previously working with Brunel London University and exploring the effects of exercise on brain activity.
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