IT IS SAD & SCARY
Rowntree reflects on pal’s case
MUNSTER forwards c o a c h G r a h a m Rowntree admits the brain damage issues raised by his former England team- mate Steve Thompson are frightening.
Thompson, 42, has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and is among a number of former players bringing a landmark legal case against t he r ugby authorities.
Rowntree played with World Cup winning hooker Thompson f or s e v e ra l seasons and later went on to coach him.
“It’s scary stuff. It’s more than scary, it’s saddening,” said the 49- year- old.
“It ’s quit e unsettli ng really. I played in that era, I had concussions. I played alongside Steve, played against St e ve, coached Steve. He’s a mate.
“It ’s j ust horrible, i t ’s proper saddening to hear that news. What can I say?
“But what I do know, the game has moved on. The players are l ooked after now, i n particular concussion protocols, the way the game is refereed in terms of zero tolerance for high shots.
“I have every confidence in how it’s handled now. All our protocols are in place as a club and a sport, I am very confident about that. But it’s sad news.”
R o w n t r e e i s currently preparing f o r h i s s e c o n d Champions Cup c a mpaig n wit h Munster as they k i c k- o f f a g a i n s t Harlequins, where he was also forwards coach for a couple of seasons.
A l l n i n e I r e l a n d internationals are available f o r S u n d ay ’s c l a s h a t T h o m o n d P a r k b u t s u mmer s i g n i n g Matt Gall agher ( i nset) i s t o undergo surgery today for a shoulder injury.
R o wnt r e e s a i d t h a t winning all seven PRO14 g a m e s w i t h o u t t h e i r frontline players most of the time meant selecting the t eam f or European action was difficult.
“We’ve cer t ai nly
had s o m e o f o u r l o n g e r selection meetings over the last few days because of the form of the young guys and particularly the young forwards.
“I ’ ve been i mpressed with them and they’ve got on with things. They ’ve done everything that we’ve asked them to do, they’re gaining experience, and they’re gaining c onf i dence, but this is a big step. We wouldn’t pick them if we didn’t f e e l t h e y w e r e ready.”
“Thi s i s j ust a huge English club coming here in the first round of Europe and I ’ve said before how much Europe means to me and this club.
“At t he moment, I ’m worried about f or ward play and stopping them playing.
“They are a good club, got a bit of form recently. I li ke how they play, they play a particular style that can hurt you if you give them the time and space. They have got the players to do that.”