The World Cup winner now wishes he never played rugby
Rugby World Cup winner and former Northampton Saint Steve Thompson has revealed there were times when he wanted to end his life while struggling with dementia. The 43-year-old former England hooker, part of the team which lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia in 2003, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy in November 2020.
Thompson previously revealed he had been placed on suicide watch as his struggle with dementia took him to the brink of despair. He told PA: “I don’t know how I’m still alive to be honest because I’ve been so close to suicide. Even through filming the documentary there were times when I just wanted to end it and I had just had enough.
The former rugby player, who cannot remember being awarded an MBE by the Queen following England’s 2003 victory over Australia in the World Cup final, explained how his wife Steph had been “so strong” for him. Thompson retired in 2011 because of a neck injury. He had previously done so in 2007 as a result of a different neck problem but returned to extend a club career which included spells with Northampton Saints, Brive, Leeds and Wasps.
"Are the players getting regular brain scans? No, they’re not, which we think they should do. If you could see the brain’s been damaged, you’re retired and it’s out of the player’s hands.
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