Alix Popham Keynote Speaker

Alix  Popham is a former professional rugby player who won 33 caps for Wales over a distinguished career spanning 13 years. He had the honour of being the first Welsh player to captain an elite French team as he led Brive la Gaillarde for the 2010/11 season, when the prestigious French club was embarking on its first Heineken Cup campaign for 12 years.

Alix’s entrepreneurial instincts prompted him to open a property portfolio. He also worked with Darwin Gray, and started his own company 8 Total Management while still playing top-level rugby. On retirement through injury Alix also worked in a consultancy capacity with medical firm, Depuy Synthes, where he drew upon his elite knowledge to help advise practice in orthopaedic surgery.

His passion for health and fitness has helped to raise over £100,000 for charitable causes: Alix has organised and participated in two long distance bike rides, including ‘The Battle to Brive’ which saw participants cycle cover the 650 miles from Pontypridd, South Wales to Brive in the South of France. He has also taken part in the RAAM ride(Ride across America) covering over 3000 miles in a week, on three occasions raising money for Asthma UK.

Alix founded HUB XV in July 2018 and has launched co-working hubs and business communities at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Ascot Racecourse and Twickenham Rugby stadium, utilising underused space in world class sports stadia Monday to Friday along with hosting an exciting and varied business and sports events programme for HUB XV members and guests. HUB XV is a rapidly expanding business with ambitious growth strategy and will soon be launching further hubs in prestigious sporting venues across the UK, followed by a global roll out.

Almost a decade on in 2020, he was then hit with the hardest blow of his life – receiving a diagnosis of early onset dementia, brought on by the countless shuddering collisions out on the rugby field. This devastating, life-limiting condition would not only derail a young man in his prime, but also change the futures of his wife Mel, and his three daughters Holly, 18yrs, Isobel, 15yrs and Darcey, 4yrs.

Alix Popham has since embarked on a mission as a speaker and advocate to seek a better future for others playing contact sport, launching the charity Head for Change, in 2021, to change the blueprint of contact sport and campaign for improved head injury protocols to make playing sport safer.