Episode 5: Ed Daly speaks to the legendary England women's team winger 'Kat' (Katherine) Merchant. Kat has had an incredible career playing both 15s and 7s women's rugby for her country and Worcester. Achieving her first cap for England at 19. As part of her incredible 9-year term with England, she played in the 2010 and 2014 Rugby World Cups. In this episode, Kat speaks honestly about her career in the sport, level of play, and why it all came to an end due to concussion injuries. Kat shares an athlete's perspective on suffering concussions and dealing with their invisible nature and the variety of subtle and obvious symptoms that can occur briefly and longer-term. Kat speaks on the importance of awareness, proper managment and rest to save the players and the game. About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by:Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 4: Ed Daly speaks to Australian model and former professional rugby league player Nick Youngquest. During his National Rugby League career, Nick played mainly as a winger with teams such as the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and in the UK for the Gateshead Thunder, Celtic Crusaders and the Castleford Tigers.In this episode, Nick speaks to Ed about his experiences with concussion injuries, many of which went undiagnosed the protocols that were in place during his time playing and what lead to his further retirement. Nick opened up about the seizures he suffered following his retirement in 2012. While he also shares how he established the "Athletes 4 Life (A4L) charity" to help other athletes transition into retirement through running marathons.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by:Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 3: Ed Daly speaks to Niall Ronan, a retired professional Irish rugby player. Ronan began his career as a flanker in 2003 with Leinster, then Munster where he successfully accumulated over 100 caps and also represented Ireland at full international level.In this episode, Niall speaks to Ed about his journey and shares memories of his “best years” playing professional Rugby which evolved from his love for GAA. Niall shares the many opportunities presented to him and his encounter with concussion injuries at this time. In 2014 Niall retired due to a knee injury and founded Titan Wellness, which looks to build “a culture of health and wellness” in the organisations they work with – but those good rugby memories remain strong.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by:Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 2: Ed Daly speaks to Kieran Low, a Scottish professional lineout who retired from Rugby in 2016. Kieran spent most of his career at London Irish and had short spells at Glasgow Warriors and Saracens.In this episode, Kieran speaks to Ed about his journey in professional Rugby, sharing the many successes and opportunities presented to him. Kieran shares his encounter with the numerous ignored concussion injuries that occurred as his career began to explode in 2013-2014. Sharing the impact they have had on his life, how he manages the after-effects daily and addresses the importance of creating a safety net for all retired players to transition from the professional game. A compelling, open and raw conversation.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by:Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 1: Ed Daly,  speaks to former professional Connacht prop forward Ronan Loughney who retired from rugby in 2017. Since his retirement, Loughney has gone on to develop establish his own furniture-making business - RO Designs creating Custom Wood Fittings (http://rodesign.ie/).Loughney made his Connacht debut in 2006 having come through the province's academy system before going on to spend 12 years at the Sportsground and play 191 times for the province; across the Pro 12, Challenge and Champions Cup competitions.The Galway native was also an Ireland U19 and U21 representative and made his senior debut against the All Blacks on Ireland's 2012 tour of New Zealand, the only international cap of his career to date.In this episode, Ronan openly shares his views and encounters with concussion injuries and his opinions on the game becoming "player-centric" and discusses its evolution throughout his playing career.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by: Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 17: Ed Daly,  speaks to the former professional Connacht, Wasps and Irish back row, and now Strength and Conditioning coach for Connacht's Senior team; Johnny O'Connor. O'Connor spent most of his career with Irish provincial side Connacht, making over 100 appearances across two stints with the team. He also spent four seasons with English Premiership side Wasps in between. He also played amateur club rugby for Galwegians and Galway Corinthians.O'Connor played for Ireland at the full international level. Making his debut in 2004 against South Africa. Johnny has made 12 appearances for Ireland, and was part of the 2006 team that won the Triple Crown, and was named 2005 Irish Rugby Union Players' Association player of the year.In this episode, Johnny openly shares his views and encounters with concussion injuries and the injury that ended his career.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by: Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 16: Ed Daly,  speaks to the former professional back row for England; Joe Worsley.Attaining 78 caps during his career with England. Joe was also part of the English and Irish Lions team from 2009. Later in 2011, Joe retired from all forms of the game due to a neck injury. Now shares his unique skill and knowledge as a defence coach of French top 14 team Bordeaux Bègles.In this episode, Joe openly shares his views and encounters with concussion injuries during his playing days.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by: Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ieEpisode is LivePublished: May. 23, 2021 @ 2AM EditUnpublishAdd a TranscriptGet episode better indexed by search engines.Add Chapter MarkersListeners can tap through & see what’s coming up.Visual Soundbite AvailableSquare Soundbite - 0:30Great for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Download SoundbiteDelete this Soundbite and create a new one.Share Episode OnFacebookTwitter

Episode 15: Ed Daly,  speaks to avid scrum cap wearer and former Munster scrum-half Duncan Williams. During Duncan's career, he has spent over 10 years playing with Munster. Following this, he later went on to make his debut against Connacht in 2009 and later retired in 2018.Duncan openly shares his encounters with numerous concussion injuries, and how he now has vertigo as a result.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by: Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 14: Ed Daly,  speaks to ex-professional rugby player John Andress. Over his 12 years he has represented English clubs; Exeter, Worcester and Edinburgh, and Irish clubs Munster and Connacht. John now runs Edges Rugby Management Agency playing a key role in the careers of many current and prospective rugby players career journey.John openly shares his encounters with a concussion and his experiences as a professional rugby player and the different pressures involved.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.iePublished by: Emma.FinneganEmail: Emma.Finnegan@gmit.ie

Episode 13: Ed Day speaks to Duncan Casey; a former Irish hooker, who played for his native province Munster before moving his career to France in 2018 playing with Grenoble until 2019 due to injury. About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 12: Ed Day speaks to David Denton; the former professional rugby player with Edinburgh, Bath and Worcester.  In this episode, David shares his personal experience with a concussion and the consequential injury that brought his career in Rugby to an abrupt end in 2019. David speaks positively about the future and the importance of pushing past internal pressures with your long-term health in mind. About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 11: Ed Day speaks to Roger Wilson; a former professional rugby union player with over 350 professional games throughout his 15-year career.Having played for Ulster, the Northampton Saints, and Ireland, he was called to represent both the prestigious Barbarian and World XV teams in 2014, before retiring from professional sports in 2017 as Ulster’s player with the highest number of appearances ever. Aside from sports, Roger has travelled to more than 30 countries around the world and holds a BSc and a Masters. Along with his wife and two young children, he recently moved to Texas, where he is currently pursuing the next chapter in life. About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex-professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years of experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post-concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 10: Ed Daly speaks with Sophie Spence is a former Irish Rugby Union footballer capped 40 times who played second row/back row for Old Belvedere Rugby Club, Leinster and Ireland. Represented Ireland in the 7's and 15's at an international level. Now a key player in the Wales women's management team. Sophie speaks to Ed about her own personal experiences and thoughts on concussion injuries and their management in women's rugby. About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 9: Ed Daly speaks with Alix Popham a former professional Welsh rugby player. Alix has played with clubs; Newport, Leeds, Scarlets and Brive and has also achieved 33 caps playing with his native team Wales.   Alix speaks to Ed about his life as a professional rugby player and the impact it has had on his life post retirement. At the young age of 40, he was diagnosed with early onset dementia as a result of many impacts he sustained that he now "can't remember" during his professional career.Alix talks about the need for better player welfare to protect the players and consequently to protect the game we all love Rugby.Please support the Head For Change bike ride on the 6th & 7th March 2021The Head for Rugby Ride Change will kick off the launch of the incredible Head for Change charity.Set up to support players who have been affected by neurodegenerative disease and their families who have urgent needs which are not being met. With your support Head for Change will help them. The care, advice and support that will be provided will cost money, so please support and take part in their ambitious fundraising programme."Head for Change: Rugby Ride Challenge 2021"https://headforchange.org.uk/events/rugby-ride-challengeAbout the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 8: Ed Daly speaks with Peter Robinson father of Ben Robinson a young vibrant teenage who sadly passed away as a result of a brain injury caused by the repeated blows to the head he suffered during a school rugby match. Since then, Peter has been raising awareness about brain injuries, and he wants young sportspeople to be better protected from brain injuries. Culture is the glue that holds our sportspeople together, a concussion may seem like a "wee knock" but that knock can change a lives forever. Actions need to change - if in doubt sit them out.***This episode contains sensitive content as Peter speaks about his sons death.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 7: Ed Daly speaks with Dean Mumm former Wallabies captain and Exeter Chiefs' team captain in the UK.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 6: Ed Daly speaks with Barry Murphy; ex Munster rugby player and current Bass player and vocals for Irish sensation Hermitage Green.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Denis Leamy played with Munster Rugby until his retirement in 2012. He played in two Heineken Cup finals (2006/2008), he represented Ireland (57 caps) and played in two World Cups. His current role in Leinster Rugby is as an Elite Player Development Officer.In podcast 5; Denis describes his honest experiences with concussion injuries as a past player and now as a very active coach and his views on the injury.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Dr Duncan French has over 20 years of experience working in high performance and Olympic athletes. He's currently the head of the UFC performance institute in Las Vegas and Shanghai. In previous roles, he was the Director of Performance Science at the University of Notre Dame, USA. Technical Lead for Strength & Conditioning at the English Institute of Sport and the national lead for S&C to both Great Britain Basketball and the Great Britain Taekwondo’s Olympic program. He was also the Head of Strength & Conditioning at Newcastle United FC in the English Premier League for three seasons.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie

Episode 3: Ed Daly speaks with retired English international Rugby player Danielle "Nolli" Waterman.About the podcast:The Heads-Up Podcast are a series of interviews with ex professional male rugby players, elite female players and coaches about concussion in the sport. The podcasts discuss their early careers and very open commentary about the realities of professional rugby. Heads-Up discusses insights into injury (specifically concussion), how they managed then and how they continue to manage with life after a professional career. The players offer insights into the culture around the game, their concussion experiences and their observations on player welfare, protective equipment and law changes to the game.  About Ed Daly:Ed Daly has over thirteen years’ experience in sports coach education and more than five years of lecturing experience in third-level institutes. Ed is currently a PhD researcher focused on investigating concussion identification, concussion management and concussion reduction strategies.Ed is an active PhD research scientist (Oxford Brookes University) specializing in concussion education, managing athlete workload, objective concussion diagnosis and post concussion management. Currently developing research for the Irish Concussion Research Centre (ICRC) based in GMIT.Ed is a lecture in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in the area of Sport & Exercise Science within the School of Science & Computing. Programme coordinator for MSc (strength & conditioning).Before moving to a career in lecturing, Ed worked in professional sports and spent over ten years as a coach with Munster Rugby, coaching age-grade players on the professional player development pathway and in injury incidence reduction via workload management (specializing in the area of strength & conditioning).Contact Details:Ed DalyEmail: Ed.Daly@gmit.ie