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Head On: Rugby, Dementia and Me

Ex-rugby player Steve Thompson's life has been turned upside down by a diagnosis of early onset dementia. Steve and his family attempt to come to terms with the condition.

In 2003, Steve Thompson played a vital role in England winning the Rugby World Cup. In the last minute of extra time, with the scores tied, Steve threw the ball in from a line-out that was passed to Jonny Wilkinson, whose drop goal dramatically won the match. It is one of the most memorable endings to a game in rugby history - but now retired and aged 42, Steve doesn鈥檛 remember it. Just like he doesn鈥檛 remember a huge amount of his professional career.

At the end of 2020, Steve鈥檚 life was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis of early onset dementia and probable CTE, a degenerative brain condition linked to repetitive trauma to the brain. And Steve isn鈥檛 alone. Hundreds of former rugby players are now showing symptoms of the disease.

In this documentary, Steve reveals the devastating physical and mental impact that his career as a professional rugby player has had on his health, family, work and day-to-day life.

2 months left to watch

59 minutes

Signed Audio described

Last on

Fri 21 Oct 2022 00:15

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Mark Casebow
Editor Paul van Dyck
Producer Sharul Khan
Production Manager Felicity Arkell
Executive Producer Tom Barry
Production Company Raw TV

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