World-beater Steve can’t remember his finest hour
ENGLAND great Steve Thompson has revealed he is unable to remember anything about the 2003 World Cup final as a result of brain damage he claims was caused by his years in the sport.
Thompson, 42, is one of a group of former internationals planning to sue rugby union’s authorities for negligence because of brain injuries they have been left with in retirement.
The planned action is against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, for ‘failure to protect (the claimants) from the risks caused by concussions’.
Thompson was diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in November and the hooker says the condition has left him with no memory of
i have no recollection of winning the world cup, or of being in Australia
the greatest day of his career, England’s World Cup final victory over Australia in Sydney 17 years ago.
‘I have no recollection of winning the World Cup in 2003 or of being in Australia for the tournament,’ he said.
‘It’s like I’m watching the game with England playing and I can see me there – but I wasn’t there, because it’s not me. It’s just bizarre.
‘People talk about stories, and since the World Cup I’ve talked to the lads that were there, and you pick up stories, and then you can talk about it, but it’s not me being there, it’s not me doing it, because it’s just gone.’
Thompson admits he wishes he had never been a professional rugby player. The former Northampton Saint said: ‘You see us lifting the World Cup and I can see me there jumping around. But I can’t remember it.
‘I’d rather have just had a normal life. I’m just normal. Some people go for the
big lights, whereas I never wanted that. Would I do it again? No, I wouldn’t. I can’t remember it. I’ve got no feelings about it.’
The test case involves eight players including Thompson, Michael Lipman – another former England player – and ex-Wales international Alix Popham. But Richard Boardman from Rylands
Law says he is representing more than 100 players whose ages range from their 20s to 50s. The players have created 15 ‘commandments’ which they feel World Rugby should adopt to make the game safer.
‘The vast majority of the former players we represent love the game and don’t want to see it harmed in any way,’
Boardman said. ‘ They just want to make it safer so current and future generations don’t end up like them.
‘This is why we’re asking World Rugby to make a number of immediate, relatively low-cost changes.
‘The first step is for World Rugby, RFU and WRU to stop being in denial and acknowledge that there is a problem.’