Rugby is a physical sport, where concussions are common.

Now, new research should look even more at the problem, and to its aid they will get brains from former players.

Looking for signs of CTE

New Zealand's only human brain bank today initiated a collaboration with a US-based concussion foundation to research sports' impact on brain health and brain damage.

For that research, several families of former national team players will donate the brains of former players that researchers can investigate to find out how the brains have been affected by the cracks they have received during their careers. Both players who have suffered concussions and those who have not will participate in the research.

Above all, they will look for signs of brain disease CTE, a disease that, among other things, causes dementia-like symptoms and which has often been linked to repeated brain trauma in physical sports.

"A huge opportunity"

One who has already pledged to donate his brain is former New Zealand junior team coach John Williams.

- This is a huge opportunity for me to understand what is happening to me, says Williams according to the New Zealand Herald.

Williams, now 62, has suffered from memory loss, mood swings and chronic headaches after his career.