It's not just your brain that is at risk these days, as a professional rugby player you are now at risk of developing eating issues, and appearance and weight concerns that look an awful lot like an eating disorder.
Research conducted by the University of Otago, found that a number of younger players in particular were starting to show negative attitudes towards their bodies' appearance, under-eating, binging and making themselves sick to manage their weight.
In the last few years Wallabies player David Pocock and international Referee Nigel Owens spoke publicly about their own struggle with eating disorders.
Increased pressure as an athlete to look good, the pressures of social media and the intense publicity of the modern game were cited as factors.
And at the other end of a players career, the cumulative effect of head injuries can put the retired player at significantly higher risk of depression, and even suicide.
In the US, research into the brains of NFL players show a shocking 99 per cent of players show signs of neurodegenerative disease, and while there is still some debate about how prevalent it is, there have been a number of high-profile suicides linked to this brain damage.
All of this can be a bit conflicting for a rugby tragic, who is also concerned about mental and brain health.
For this reason, I applaud the new head injury assessment rules, but I also think that we could be kinder to players. Yes they get paid, and yes it is our national obsession. But as players get younger and younger and pressures, with public exposure gets greater, perhaps we should cut them a bit of slack.
We increasingly implore parents to be kind and supportive on the sidelines, why not for those players that are just a few years younger? Believe me, even as a Blues fan, I'm happy to set myself this task. "Play the ball, not the man" as the saying goes.
Because it might be a wonderful game, it might even be the game they play in heaven, but no game is worth dying for.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.