Shake it off and get on with it mentality gone, says Marcus Horan as new brain health initiative launched

Marcus Horan believes the 'shake it off' mentality is gone from rugby and has welcomed a new initiative aimed at the welfare of retired players.

Earlier today, World Rugby and Rugby Players Ireland launched the Brain Health Service to support former professionals who have concerns about their brain health.

It includes an awareness and education component, an online questionnaire and tele-health delivered cognitive assessment with a trained brain health practitioner.

This service assesses players for any brain health warning signs, provide advice on managing risk factors and signpost anyone in need of specialist care.

Former prop Horan won 67 Ireland caps and played 225 times for Munster between 1999 and 2013.

He believes that there is much more awareness in the game now around head injuries and that the governing bodies have become more proactive.

"When I was playing in the amateur days with Shannon and then with Munster and Ireland when you tended to shake these things off and get on with it," the Clare man told RTÉ Sport.

"The advancement in how we deal with concussion now is completely different and really positive.

"Even people watching the game, when they see an incident, they can identify when something should be done.

"Even hearing commentators saying certain players should be leaving the field.

"This is around education and awareness but mostly about care for our past players.

"Our tagline is ‘our guys are members for life’ and some of these concerns come from players that have worries, even myself, we all have these worries about our brain health and making sure we keep an eye on it.

"This service will do that, it’s going to help guys, if they have any worries at all, to go and get an assessment.

"It incorporates lifestyle