Sir, – In my school days, I mercifully avoided compulsory casting for the roles of flannelled fool and muddied oaf. However, I've maintained a lifelong spectator interest. I was therefore intrigued to read ("Sports injuries", Sports, May 14th) that rugby players and American footballers are at risk of brain shrinkage and "compromised white matter integrity " (a marvellous phrase, to be kept in mind for future insults ).
But have the researchers sufficiently investigated whether those who take up such sports are congenitally disposed to these risks? – Yours, etc,
JOHN A MURPHY,
Rosebank,
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Douglas Road, Cork.