I've been playing rugby since I was eight, I never thought about concussion - until now

When Ffion Jones started playing rugby at the age of eight, her focus was simply on doing her best for the team, despite regularly taking knocks to the head.

Now 22, she is one of 30 women taking part in a new study at Cardiff University examining the effects of repeated head impacts.

Jones said the lack of research on female athletes made the project "a really important step forward" and had changed how she thought about her health and future in the sport.

The study's lead researcher, Peter Theobald, said it was the first project of its kind focused on women, with some evidence suggesting female brains could be more vulnerable to injury.

Jones said she began playing rugby with boys in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, alongside her sister, Celyn, after their father, a coach, put them both on the team.

She explained that, as a child, head injuries were not something she worried about.

"When I stepped onto the pitch, my focus was on playing the game and doing my best for the team," Jones said.

"If I took a knock to the head, I'd just get up and carry on. I've had a few knocks over the years, but nothing major.

"I always assumed everything would be fine."

Jones said the lack of research on female athletes has been a long-standing issue, which encouraged her to take part in the study.

"It isn't acceptable that things like head injury assessment protocols in rugby are largely based on data from men and then slightly adapted for women," she said.

"That's why it's so encouraging to see research finally looking specifically at the impact of head injuries on women."

The study followed 30 female rugby players across a full season, using specially-designed mouthguards to measure both the number and force of head impacts during matches.

Some participants also had detailed MRI scans to track any changes in the brain over time.

Jones said taking part in the study had changed her perspective, making her "think more carefully about my health".

"Now, if I take a blow to the head, I stop and think about whether I need to take a step back," she added.

As a university student, Jones explained how the research had highlighted the importance of brain health, particularly for studying and retaining information.

While the study made Jones more aware of the possible long-term effects of repeated head impacts, she added it would not stop her playing.

"The reality is that we still don't know enough about what repeated knocks to the head mean for women in the long term," she said.

Jones added that several teammates had suffered concussions which "affected their day-to-day lives", with one unable to return to rugby for about six months because of ongoing symptoms.