Rugby league legend Sam Burgess has revealed he fears for his brain health, saying he undergoes checkups every six months after retirement.

The 32-year-old, who spent a season in union and was quickly integrated into the 2015 England World Cup squad, was wrongly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago.

But after a career filled with massive blows and injuries to the face, he fears he will develop a degenerative disease.

The former rugby league star made the revelation on Australian TV show SAS Australia

The 32-year-old fears he will develop a degenerative disease after his rugby career

“In the end, the specialist cleared me of MS, but he warned me that there were a few signs that it could lead in that direction,” Burgess said during his appearance on the show. reality TV show SAS Australia.

“I think there is damage to my brain. Full of white dots. It appeared on the MRI.

“It was a revelation that the brain is complex with contact sports, and a lot of the research that comes out, obviously there are risks.

Burgess won the NRL premier with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014

“It was something I took very seriously. I have to have brain scans every six months to check if it is getting worse, worse or better.

Burgess is not part of a class action lawsuit brought by former rugby union players diagnosed with precocious dementia, including World Cup winner Steve Thompson, against the sport’s governing bodies.

The former Britain, Bradford and South Sydney Rabbitohs star retired from the league in 2019 and has since struggled with alcohol and drugs, been in rehab and separated from his wife during a tumultuous time in which he was convicted of intimidating his father. law, which was overturned on appeal earlier this year.