OLDHAM born ex-rugby league player and mental health advocate, Danny Sculthorpe has told fans he’s going into hospital after suffering seizures and memory loss.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday he wrote: “So on Friday I’m going to Salford Royal hospital for an EEG and brain scan.....over the last 12 months I’ve been having some really strange little seizures and losing my memory. I’m really hoping for the best and staying really positive that I’ll be ok…”

His tweet has been met by a flood of support and attracted more than 200 comments and over 2,000 likes.

Commenters have wished the former player good luck as well as sharing their own health struggles.

One person wrote: “Sending positive thoughts to you Danny, everyone in the Rugby League family is behind you...”

Another added: “I think I can say...the whole of the Rugby family are with you Danny.”

The health scare comes as a news study launches to establish whether former elite rugby players are more likely to show early warning signs of dementia.

Fifty former elite rugby players are being recruited for the study including England's Ben Kay and Wales' Shane Williams.

The study comes amid growing concern over long-term head-injury risks in rugby and football.

Danny, has played almost 300 professional rugby league games for Rochdale, Wigan, Castleford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Bradford, as well as captaining England.

Now a mental health wellbeing coach, Danny has been open about his previous struggle with suicidal thoughts after an injury brought a sudden end to his rugby career.

He has also recently qualified to deliver Mental Health First Aid training to organisations on behalf of the charity State of Mind Sport.

As well as giving talks at schools, colleges, prisons, universities, football, rugby clubs and on construction sites, he is also a supporter of the ‘Shining A Light On Suicide’ campaign commissioned by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to encourage people to talk openly about suicide.