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Dragons and England prop James Graham has volunteered to become the first current NRL player to donate his brain to science and assist a concussion study.

Dragond and England prop James Graham is the first current rugby league player to donate his brain to science in an attempt to assist further research into concussion.

Graham joins former NSW and Australian representatives Peter Sterling and Mark Carroll in donating their brains after a study this week revealed the presence of a brain disease in two former rugby league players.

Researchers from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW Health Pathology and the University of Sydney's Brain And Mind Centre examined the brains of two middle-aged dead former rugby league players, both of whom played over 150 first grade games.

They discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease linked to repeated head trauma and widely associated with the National Football League in the United States.

Graham told Fox League he would happily help scientists and the code negotiate the "very tricky and complex situation" of concussion.

"I guess when I die my brain and spinal cord, if I'm in Sydney, will be going to the Sydney University for them to look at, examine and hopefully some good can come of this," Graham said.

"I think the more players of all codes can sign up, it can only lead to more research being done and figuring out the answers of what is a very tricky and complex situation.

"Now that it's out there, now that it's confirmed they've found CTE in some former NRL players, it brings the talk about concussion back to the table."

Earlier this year Graham adopted a tough stance on the subject of concussion, saying he was happy to accept the dangers of head knocks as part of the game.

"The nature of our sport is that head knocks are part of it," Graham told NRL 360.

"What's the alternative, do you take the sport away from me and guys like me? Where do I turn to? It's probably crime."