Dear Mr Fanning, I have read your Sunday Independent article dated 21st September 2014 headlined 'Player education needed to help reduce serious injuries'.

Many of my friends and relatives have also read it. I think your article is unfair and derogatory of me, and that view is shared by others to whom I have spoken.

There is no-one involved in sport who should adopt a cavalier attitude to the risks of serious sporting injury. I certainly do not because they can affect not only my livelihood, but my life itself. You have indicated in your article that another interview which I gave about my history of head injury, "beggared belief" with the implication that I treat this matter in some casual or offhand way. In your article, referring to me, you say ". . . whose bell has been rung so often he must feel like a fire engine. . ." Frankly, I don't actually know what this soundbite of yours is meant to mean, but it is presumably your attempt at a light-hearted jibe about the serious subject that I am being accused by you of trying to trivialise.

Your article also quotes Dr Stewart, who makes all sorts of completely unjustified assumptions about me, and ends his comments with a sarky "Thanks, Luke", after slating me for supposed playing the "hero", and recklessly setting a bad example to younger players. That again is totally unfair.

I have read a lot about head injuries and concussion, and I know that even the experts hold different opinions. The reality is that neither you nor Dr Stewart know anything about my situation, character or attitude. My employer, Ulster Rugby, takes the best available advice in relation to head and other injuries, and ensures that its players receive top-class treatment from relevant specialists. I am properly educated and informed by the medical experts about what I should and shouldn't do, and the time scales, and I follow the advice I receive.

You have told the world at large that my "future is patently uncertain". I don't know where that statement comes from either. I remain very optimistic about my rugby future, both with Ulster, and at the higher level. I am very well aware that rugby is a contact sport. The loss of Stephen Ferris to rugby, with his retirement this year, tells us all that no player, even with the best medical advice and treatment, can be given guarantees about freedom from injuries, or length of career.

I am a young professional rugby player who is increasingly being expected to take on media duties. I undertake those duties to the best of my ability, although I accept that, like others, I can get it wrong sometimes.

I have re-read the words of my earlier interview referred to in your article, and I don't see how it could possibly justify the comments you made. That interview was the latest of quite a number, in which I have been repeatedly questioned about the concussion issue.

My "head injuries" largely occurred in the season before last, and last season I played in 26 matches, which I don't consider a bad recent injury record at all.

Luke Marshall

Brendan Fanning responds:

Mr Marshall

Thank you for you letter. I wish more players/coaches would correspond when they read something written about them which they don't like, rather than take the hump in silence, so I see this as a worthwhile exercise.

I don't doubt for a moment that you take your career and health seriously, or that you follow rigorously the first-class medical advice you are given and the return-to-play guidelines surrounding concussion.

However, given your history of four concussive episodes between March 9, 2013 and February 28, 2014, it is inevitable, for a high-profile player such as yourself, that this is a go-to subject when you deal with the media. So I was taken aback in your interview in another newspaper when you said that if you got another bang you would be like any other player, and that you didn't think it would affect you too much.

I couldn't make the connection between your history and that projection into the future, and neither could others with whom I shared your quotes.

Moreover, I think it is inaccurate of you to infer from Dr Willie Stewart's comments that he was slating you for "supposed (sic) playing the hero". My interpretation of his comments was that your position as a successful international player automatically accorded you 'hero' status among the many kids for whom you have signed autographs since your career took off.

I wish you every success in the rest of your career.

Regards,

Brendan Fanning

Sunday Indo Sport