Expedition to take place in Sept/ Oct 2025.

Thank you for sponsoring me.

The plan is to climb a mountain in Nepal called Cho Oyu and to raise money for an important charity called Head for Change. At 8,200m Cho Oyu is the 6th highest spot on the planet. It is one of the 14 mountains over 8000m, the level above which is known as the Death Zone. In the Death Zone the body can’t survive without extra oxygen. It’s way higher than I have ever been and quite a daunting and humbling challenge.

Head for Change was co-founded by Alix Popham (a former Welsh international diagnosed with early onset dementia) and looks after ex-pro rugby and football players who have suffered brain injuries, as well as researching into potential treatments for these brain injuries.

One of my very good friends, Carl Hayman (45 caps for the All Blacks, twice European Cup Champion with Toulon), a legend of the game is now suffering in his early forties from onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and it’s not good. Lots of other ex-elite players are in trouble too with increasing risk of MND. There are no cures yet and we need to find some. These cures could work for all sorts of brain illnesses and injuries in adults and kids too. There are some promising results but at very early stages.

Those of you who know me know how much I love the game of rugby and how much it has given me over the last 30 years. Amazing friends on and off the pitch, personal and work networks, important values and experiences that are impossible to forget. I still coach the game, but am increasingly wary with every new bit of science and we need to solve this problem.

When playing the game, we all understand the physical challenge and risk of injury and that the battle with the opposition and with yourself is part of the beauty of the game. Rules have evolved to reduce physical risks in the scrum, the tackle, crocodile rolls etc.

What is emerging is the significance of the risk of brain injury as an inherent part of the game, particularly at the elite level. Big concussions are a known danger, but the thousands of minor brain injuries with every big impact seem to cause lasting and terrible damage to the brain that is now being understood. Increasingly we all know friends in the game who are struggling, or worse still couldn’t cope with these brain injuries in their 30’s and 40’s.

We need to do more research and we need to evolve the game so that we can reduce this issue and allow the game we all love to survive. We also need to look after those for whom it is already too late.

Head for Change has 3 purposes:

1) Look after ex-players who are suffering with brain injuries

2) Educate players and lawmakers in how to make the game safer

3) Research into promising, emerging treatments that seem to reverse or halt the decline.

I hope that by scaling this mountain, in both physical and mentally demanding conditions I can push myself to new limits and with your help we can benefit others less fortunate.

Thanks again – I really appreciate your donation and will be motivated to make it count.