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Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson tells ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live's Helen Skelton about the impact early onset dementia has had on his life.

The former England and British and Irish Lions hooker is one of a group of former players suing rugby union's governing bodies for negligence.

They say repeated blows to the head are to blame for their dementia.

World Rugby said it could not comment on Thompson's situation given the ongoing legal proceedings but added: "We want all current and former players to know that player welfare continues to be World Rugby’s number one priority."

The RFU - the governing body of English rugby - said it was "deeply saddened" by Thompson's account - and those from other former players about their health and the impact on their families.  It added: "We care deeply about both current and former players and will continue to use our many years of research and monitoring to improve head impact and concussion surveillance, injury prevention and injury treatment."

Listen to the full interview with Helen Skelton on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live at 10:00 BST, Sunday, 28 August on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sounds.

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