Alix Popham (46)

1979-10-17 | Newport, Wales

Alix Jon Popham is a Welsh former rugby union player who played as a number eight or flanker. Born in Newport, he began his career with Newport RFC in 1998, before moving to Leeds Tykes in 2002. He spent three years in England before returning to Wales with the Llanelli Scarlets in 2005. In 2008, he moved to France to play for Brive and was made captain ahead of the 2009–10 season. He retired due to injury at the end of the 2010–11 season, having made over 320 appearances in 13 years as a professional. He also played internationally for the Wales national team, earning 33 caps. In April 2020, Popham was diagnosed with early onset dementia; doctors estimated his brain had suffered up to 100,000 sub-concussions over the course of his 14-year professional career. Together with Steve Thompson and Michael Lipman, Popham filed legal claims against the Rugby Football Union, the Welsh Rugby Union and World Rugby for the injuries they sustained playing the game.