WINNING the Rugby World Cup for England should be the highlight of Steve Thompson's life.
But as the former hooker stares at the medal he was awarded after a 20-17 victory over Australia in 2003, all he can think about is how rugby has ruined everything.
The dad-of-four blames the sport for the disease that has left him struggling with mental illness, robbed him of family memories and pushed him to the brink of suicide.
Early onset dementia linked to head injuries means Steve cannot remember his children's names or marrying his wife of 11 years, Steph.
Revealing that he is thinking of selling his medal, Steve, 45, says: "It might as well be an ashtray.
"I don't remember anything about that World Cup. I've watched the final. It's like I'm watching a stranger.
"My eldest daughter is really into sport. She asks me if I have played in those stadiums. I suppose I must have, but I don't know. That version of me is dead.
"Winning the World Cup should have been one of the highlights of my life but I wish it never happened."
As a rugby union hooker, who won 73 caps for England and played for Northampton Saints, Leeds Carnegie, London Wasps and French team CA Brive, Steve's skull would have taken a lot of impact.
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Sunday Mirror ã® September 24, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Sunday Mirror ã® September 24, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Zeezy does it
FEMI LAST-GASP\LEVELLER,DENIES CATS
Leading an Art Lesson
GUNNERS TURN ON THE STYLE TO SNAP MISERABLE RUN
ODETO A GENIUS
Gunners skipper is poetry in motion inspiring classic win
'WE CAN'T RELY ON KIDS TO STAY IN THIS LEAGUE'
TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS and Tyler Dibling are stars in the making.
BELLAMY'S TRIUMPH SHINES A LIGHT ON FA'S PRICEY GAMBLE
CRAIG BELLAMY'S annual salary as Wales manager is not widely known, but most estimates have it around the £500,000 mark.
Why I blame baby talc for my cancer
Brit suing US giant over asbestos link tells how her health fell apart
The tip of climate change
Coastal landslips expose old rubbish dumps to sea
Chaos reigns at Cop29 as nations walk over finance
COP29 collapsed into chaos yesterday with delegates from several countries walking out on the climate change talks.
You can earn more working for IKEA than in social care ... Labour wants to fix that
A FAIR pay deal for care staff will help fix our creaking NHS, Angela Rayner says.
Denzel swaps $8,000 booze sessions for Training Days
DENZEL Washington says he is getting back in shape after spending years downing wine and sometimes knocking back $8,000-worth in a day.