University of Auckland researchers have published a landmark study examining the long-term health outcomes for thousands of former high-level rugby players in New Zealand. The work, led by PhD student Francesca Anns and senior lecturer Dr Stephanie D’Souza from the COMPASS Research Centre, draws on whole-population administrative records to quantify neurodegenerative disease risk among men who played at provincial level or above.

The study analysed data for nearly 13,000 former players and compared their outcomes with matched men from the general population. It found a small to moderate elevation in overall neurodegenerative disease diagnoses, with the increased risk becoming most apparent in later life.

Study Design and Scope

Researchers accessed linked health and rugby participation records through the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. The cohort included men who had competed in first-class rugby between 1950 and 2000, allowing follow-up through to 2023. This approach provided one of the largest and most comprehensive examinations of rugby-related neurological risk conducted anywhere in the world to date.

Participation levels ranged from provincial amateur through to international and professional ranks. The analysis also considered playing position, duration of career, and number of matches played, offering granular insight into potential dose-response relationships.

Key Findings on Disease Rates

By the end of the follow-up period, 6.5 percent of the former rugby players had received a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis or died from one, compared with 5.2 percent of men in the general population. The hazard ratio for any neurodegenerative disease stood at 1.22, indicating a 22 percent higher risk for players.

Alzheimer’s disease showed the clearest elevation, with a hazard ratio of 1.61. Other dementias carried a hazard ratio of 1.23. No statistically significant increases appeared for Parkinson’s disease or motor neuron disease in the overall cohort.

Risk differences emerged most strongly after age 70, consistent with the typical age of onset for many neurodegenerative conditions. Subgroup analyses revealed modestly higher risks among backline players, those with longer careers, and individuals who reached higher competitive levels.

Context Within New Zealand Rugby Culture

Rugby holds a central place in New Zealand society, with deep community roots and strong participation rates at every level. The University of Auckland study therefore carries particular resonance for the country’s sporting and medical communities. It builds on earlier work from the university’s Centre for Brain Research that examined donated brain tissue from former players to advance understanding of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

That earlier research, published in March 2025, highlighted microscopic changes in brain tissue linked to repeated head impacts, providing a biological foundation for the epidemiological findings released in September.

Implications for Player Welfare and Policy

The findings arrive at a time when New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby have already invested in concussion management protocols and long-term player welfare programmes. The study’s authors note that the observed risks remain relatively modest at the population level, yet they underscore the importance of continued vigilance around head-impact exposure.

University administrators and sports medicine researchers in New Zealand are now considering how these results might inform curriculum development in sports science and public health programmes. Several institutions are exploring expanded modules on traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disease surveillance.

Broader Research Landscape in New Zealand Universities

The University of Auckland’s COMPASS Research Centre and Centre for Brain Research are part of a wider network of health and sports science expertise across the country’s eight universities. Related biomarker studies involving Auckland University of Technology have examined blood protein changes in retired players with multiple concussions, pointing toward potential early-detection avenues.

These collaborative efforts illustrate how New Zealand’s compact higher-education sector can produce globally relevant research when institutions pool data and expertise. The Integrated Data Infrastructure itself, maintained by Stats NZ, has become a critical enabler for such population-level studies.

Perspectives from Stakeholders

New Zealand Rugby welcomed the publication, noting that the organisation had supported the research through data access and independent review. Officials emphasised ongoing commitments to player safety, including rule changes aimed at reducing head contact and enhanced medical monitoring.

Academic commentators have highlighted the study’s methodological strengths, particularly its use of objective administrative records rather than self-reported symptoms. At the same time, they caution that observational data cannot establish direct causation and that lifestyle, genetic, and socioeconomic factors also influence neurodegenerative outcomes.

Future Research Directions

The authors have called for further work to track female players, examine specific concussion histories in greater detail, and explore potential protective interventions. Plans are already under discussion to extend the cohort and incorporate neuroimaging and genetic data where consent allows.

University of Auckland researchers are also contributing to international consortia comparing rugby findings with data from other contact sports, aiming to isolate sport-specific versus general head-impact risks.

Impact on Higher-Education Career Pathways

The study has sparked renewed interest among postgraduate students in sports medicine, epidemiology, and neuroscience. Several New Zealand universities report increased enquiries about PhD and postdoctoral positions focused on traumatic brain injury and long-term athlete health.

Administrators note that such high-profile publications strengthen institutional research profiles and can support applications for competitive funding from bodies such as the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the Neurological Foundation.

Practical Takeaways for Academics and Administrators

Institutions are encouraged to review concussion education requirements for student-athletes and to ensure robust support services for former players who may be experiencing cognitive changes. Career services offices at universities with strong sports programmes are beginning to incorporate information on long-term health considerations into athlete transition programmes.

Faculty members in public health and sports science are updating course content to reflect the latest evidence, ensuring graduates enter the workforce with current knowledge of athlete welfare issues.

Photo by Johan Mouchet on Unsplash

Looking Ahead

As New Zealand continues to balance its deep affection for rugby with evolving understandings of brain health, the University of Auckland study provides a rigorous, locally grounded evidence base. It demonstrates the value of university-led research in informing both sporting policy and public health strategy.

Further publications from the same research team are anticipated, promising additional clarity on risk modifiers and potential mitigation strategies. The work stands as a significant contribution to the global conversation on contact-sport safety while highlighting New Zealand’s capacity for high-quality, data-driven health research.