All Blacks icon Buck Shelford is backing another initiative aimed at increasing awareness of an often-ignored area of men's health.
Shelford, a big supporter for prostate and testicular cancer awareness, is fronting a joint venture IRB, NZRFU and Auckland University of Technology study into the health of retired rugby players.
The study requires 400 former rugby and 200 retired cricket players to complete two online questionnaires comprising general health questions and short-term memory tests, as well as tasks including maths and problem solving.
A total of 75 former players, split between rugby and cricket, will also be needed to complete clinical tests at AUT's North Shore campus, including balance and brain activity tests.
Bay of Plenty Steamers coach Kevin Schuler has confirmed he will be one of the participants.
"I'm quite lucky, I've come through all right," said Schuler.
"I've got a little bit of a neck issue with some nerve damage that isn't too debilitating.
"It's interesting, because I think people are finding out that there is quite a high rate of former players from the high level having knee and hip operations in particular.
"I know personally a number of guys who have already had them, so it will be interesting to see what the consequences of top level rugby are on your long term health."
Tauranga Sports coach Mike Rogers, who has had to temper his marathon training due to problems with his lower extremities, said players' focus has always been on returning to the field as quickly as possible rather than looking after their bodies in the long term.
"It's not until a little bit later that you start to wonder whether it was worth it. Heaps of my mates in their 30s are feeling the effects."
Rogers, who played club rugby for about 10 years, said the level at which a player plies his trade has little to do with wear and tear over time.
IRB Rugby Health research administrator Peter Griffiths of AUT said the study is not merely about concussions.
"People have seen studies in America, and the IRB wants to make sure its up to date on how to best look after players," said Griffiths.
"This isn't a study just about concussion. It's a holistic study looking into psychological health, well-being and other problems.
"With this particular project it's not a knee-jerk reaction, it's not because the IRB is scared there might be something wrong here. This is a discovery project. We haven't actually looked at what the effects are in a holistic, general sense with a big sample size before, so we want to look and see whether what we are doing now is correct. This sort of study needs to be done first before other action is taken, if it needs to be."
Griffiths said recruitment is going well, but was unable to release participants' names, other than Shelford.
He hopes the study will reach the required number of subjects some time this year.
The latest appeal for participants comes as the US NFL proposes another rule change - this time to the angle that running backs are allowed to lead with their helmets into contact, although Griffiths points out that differences exist between the two sports.
"The nature of the collisions in rugby and American football are really different with all the gear they wear, but we are really looking forward to seeing what the results show us," Griffiths said.
All participants will be entered into the prize draw for $1000 worth of All Black tickets, flights and accommodation.
For more information contact project administrators Peter Griffiths or Ruth Naidoo at rugbyhealth@aut.ac.nz or 0800 AUT Rugby (0800 288 784).