Welcome to our weekly column Rugby World where we take a look at the stories making headlines in and outside Australia in the XV man game.
Hayman’s dementia verdict
Former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 41.
Hayman played 45 times for his country as well as for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Newcastle Falcons in the English Premiership.
Hayman told The Bounce of his diagnosis and his struggles since retiring in 2015.
“I spent several years thinking I was going crazy,” Hayman said. “At one stage that’s genuinely what I thought. It was the constant headaches and all these things going on that I couldn’t understand.
“At the time I felt indestructible. I never got injured, I trained bloody hard… but if I knew then what I know now, I don’t think I would have played post the [2007] World Cup. I think I would have stopped playing.”
Hayman revealed the issues led him to abuse alcohol and he received a suspended prison sentence in France after admitting to charges of domestic violence.
Hayman said at first he didn’t want to be tested to determine damage to his brain over the course of his playing career.
“I um’d and ah’d for about 12 months about whether I’d do anything about it and find out if something was wrong with me, or whether I would just get on with life and hope for the best,” he said.
“It would be pretty selfish of me to not speak up and talk about my experience when I could help a guy in New Zealand perhaps who doesn’t understand what’s happening to him and has no support network to lean on.”
Carl Hayman in 2007. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
Hayman’s diagnosis comes at a time when concussion and the long term effects of head injuries are under investigation by World Rugby, with new training procedures to be implemented including caps on the amount of contact training players are allowed to engage in.
Former World Cup-winning England and Lions hooker Steve Thompson and other retired players are engaged in a legal case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union after being diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
Hayman has joined the legal action.
“I’ve even come across people who have been affected having just played school and university-level rugby, so it’s a conversation that needs to be happening with parents and teenagers at the very start,” he said.
All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree expressed his sadness at Hayman’s situation during a media call on Wednesday.
“It’s really sad,” Plumtree said. “Carl is a 45-Test All Black and he’s done a lot for New Zealand rugby. It’s a real sad situation if he’s struggling with dementia at such an early age.
“We’ve got a lot of empathy for that. He’s been a popular person in this environment so it’s not nice to hear about those stories.”
Two more Wallabies call ups
Duncan Paia’aua and Colby Fainga’a are to join the Wallabies squad for the remainder of the Spring Tour.
Paia’aua, the first player to be selected in the Wallabies squad under the amended Giteau Law for 2021, went back to Toulon after not being used but the loss of Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Reece Hodge has seen a repreive for the 26-year-old.
“I’ve grown so much as a player since when I left,” Paia’aua said.
“I’ve played with a lot of experienced players during my time at Toulon and I’ve just picked up how they prepare for games and their bodies every week for the games.
“My skill set has improved a lot also so hopefully I can get the chance to show that.”
Jones wins support from ex-assistant
The knives are out for England coach Eddie Jones, with media reports over his man management and training methods coming in waves ahead of their Autumn Series matches.
A disappointing Six Nations campaign has shone the spotlight on Jones.
The latest news from England, in the UK Telegraph, is that scrum half Harry Randall was injured during a paddle-board session in Jersey last week.
Eddie Jones (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Jones has several injury worries ahead of the match against Tonga this week, including an issue with Marcus Smith, but Randall’s is said to be worrying to clubs.
“Telegraph Sport understands that Randall hurt himself in a paddle-boarding session, which was billed as a team-bonding exercise,” the newspaper reported.
“The 23 year-old was cleared by England’s medical team to train in a subsequent rugby session where he aggravated the injury further. This is the second time that Randall, who started the summer Tests against USA and Canada, has been forced into a long lay-off on England duty after injuring his ankle in the Six Nations.
“Bristol would not comment on Randall’s lay-off on Tuesday, but it is understood that Premiership clubs are concerned that another player has apparently been injured in a non-rugby exercise. Sam Jones, the former Wasps openside flanker, was forced to retire after sustaining an ankle injury during a judo session.”
Jones has played down the injury rate, saying: “It’s all part and parcel of preparing an international team.”
The latest dig at Jones comes after The Times ran a series hammering Jones’ man management methods.
However, his former assistant Steve Borthwick has mounted a robust defence of Jones.
The Times had described Borthwick was described as a “punchbag” who had endured a “heroic feat of endurance” by working with Jones for more than four years.
They worked together at Saracens, Japan and England.
“I will be forever grateful to Eddie for the opportunities he’s given me and for the education in coaching and ongoing support,” Borthwick said.
“I know, whenever I have a question or I can’t find a solution to something, that I have someone I can always turn to and bounce ideas off.
“Not only does Eddie have the highest win rate of any England coach, I can’t see any other England coach having such a big impact on English coaching.
“When you get coached by someone of the quality of Eddie Jones, you are going to be a better player.
“The opportunity these players have, to be coached by one of the best coaches in the world, ever, is tremendous.”
World Rugby looking at eligibility
Tonga are hopeful that a radical proposal to relax World Rugby’s eligibility laws comes into effect, boosting their chances of being competitive, with older players allowed to return ‘home’ near the end of their careers.
Tonga will play England on Saturday missing around 20 players because of travel restrictions. Many more Tongan players represent other nations.
Under World Rugby regulations, players cannot represent a nation after they have been capped by another.
World Rugby’s council is expected to vote on a proposal this month that would allow players to switch nations to one where they or their parents were born after a stand-down period of three years.
That would put players such as England’s Billy and Mako Vunipola and former All Black Charles Piutau in the Tongan frame.
Back to the Blues
The Blues have recruited former Six Nations winning coach Joe Schmidt.
Schmidt previously held an assistant coaching role with the Blues from 2005-07 before taking Clermont Auvergne to a French Top 14 title, won two Heineken Cup titles with Leinster to and coached Ireland from 2013-19.
Since finishing with Ireland after the 2019 World Cup Schmidt has been World Rugby’s director of rugby and high performance.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
sad. has the big money from professionalism meant players now play longer than they would have as ametuers at the top level? (as he said re retiring after RWC 2007). Problem is the way rugby is now, she's a bash-a-thon with players bigger, stronger, faster making each collision more violent. How it has changed since the 70's and 80's! Rugby was so much safer (& more enjoyable to watch) back then, even with rucking.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
My perspective is that these rules have been brought it to prevent poaching by rich countries of players that really shouldn't be playing there (SA forwards for Scotland, NZ mid-fielders for Wales and Ireland, PI wingers for everywhere). Also to prevent fringe players in rich countries getting a free ride into a poorer countries team over a local player. Particularly as a lot of these players are poached into foreign leagues at any early age. These players shouldn't be restricted from playing for their correct nation (although sometimes correct is complicated). If Tuilagi decided tomorrow that he wasn't a proud Englishman but would rather play with the rest of his family for Tonga, I'd let him renounce his English eligibility and play for Tonga immediately. I wouldn't let his brother that is currently Tongan suddenly represent England,
WEST
Roar Guru
Nov 14? You lost me
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Exactly- they must have broken a bone before they went pro… that is a sure indication that something might be less safe that first thought.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
November 14
biltong
Guest
I am not arguing the severity of the illness, nor the diminished quality of life. I question the statement you made of they were assured the game was safe to play. I just don't believe that.
WEST
Roar Guru
Haha I like your style Ferret :stoked: pity we’re not playing the Poms this year. Unusual, the AB use to play them annually, but it’s been awhile. We had a test series in 2014, then a test in 2018 at Twickenham, then the RWC in 2019. I’m sure they’ll schedule something hopefully for next year. I know we’re very keen to play them. Set the record straight. They’ve won 8 tests from 42. but they last beat us at the worst time.. During a RWC knock out stage :angry:
Greg
Roar Rookie
Gough Whitlam was going to bring it in when he got the boot. Plaintiff lawyers, generally big fans of his, shudder to think about losing their whole professional field of personal injury law. They make sure we won't have statutory only schemes in Australia.
scrum
Roar Rookie
I do not think comparing knees to the brain is valid for very obvious reasons
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Nah. These guys are seeking compensation for having their lives ruined by a game that they were assured was safe to play. And don’t downplay it - their quality of life will only get worse from here. They will die younger than they otherwise would and likely as pitiable wrecks of human beings. They have a wretched future ahead of them that will strain and likely break most of their closest relationships. The money they get, if they get it, will never adequately compensate for that.
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Not very classy comment, hiding as a guest...
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
It often goes back to Insurance first and the players facing massive health/doctor bills. Then the Insurance companies sue the clients for negligence. It's such a tricky situation with star players who get knocked out and everyone wants them back on the field. One of our High School players died from CTE in his early 60's but the family was so ashamed they didn't want anyone to know.
Tom
Guest
Pi heritage should be able to return to country at anytime but has to stay their forever. For imported players should be five year qualification period.
soapit
Roar Guru
For me yep, Really I think its unlikely anyway even with 3 years I spose as they'd need to not be picked again within a year of being good enough to be in the WC which won't be that many players
scrum
Roar Rookie
Sorry the ball carrier does not tackle. Funny how there is so much focus on the ball carrier by some when an AB is carded. In the recent incident both ABs made contact with their shoulders direct to the head. There are plenty of ball carries when the player is low- Just look at pick and drives close to the try line and how low players are- what percentage of tacklers are carded - hardly any compared to the number of drives. There are also plenty of carries in general play of a low height and are tackled legally . But any time an AB gets carded there are AB supporters out there trying to shift the blame to the ball carrier. The game is brutal enough without trying to defend tacklers who make direct contact to the head. It’s their responsibility not to hit the head- get your tackle height down and this will reduce the chances of direct hits to the head. It’s not that complex.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Think about the scam a player could run. Get capped for England or France. Sign a long term contract after you get a few caps with a “commitment” to play for them long term and then stand down from international duty. Get you big contract and play for your country
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Even if a team like Tonga are brought up to the proper strength after a France or England had poached a Tuilagi?
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
I agree it is very sad news for all affected. I also agree that being earmarked at such a young age can make someone totally focused on becoming a successful rugby player. It is the dream, of many New Zealanders, to be an All Black. If you are told ‘do this and you will probably make it’ I can see how that would almost be irresistible. It must be tough even thinking of another way to live when that’s the path that’s been laid out for you. Also the general mindset in rugby is to ‘harden up’ and play injured. If there is anyone to blame it is, probably, the club owners. They seem focused on making money first (second, third, fourth, fifth etc.); the good of the players and the game are well behind in the order of priority. If anyone is encouraging players to ‘fake’ baseline brain function results, to make a player not seem impaired after concussion, it would probably be the club owners. The club owners also mandate a really long season, so they can make more money. The way forward might be to be excessively cautious in regards to players returning from concussion. To be safe they might need to increase the stand down by 50% -100% more than what the medical science says is safe e.g. if the doctors say a player can return after two weeks, the minimum stand down could/should be three to four weeks. Better to be on the side of caution.
Cassandra
Roar Rookie
I think Colby Fainga’a is a classic example of what's wrong with the Giteau Law. Here's a guy who plied his trade in Super Rugby for 9 seasons. Unable to crack the Wallabies he finally went overseas for the big payday. Why on earth should a guy who played for so long at home be ineligible to play for the Wallabies because he hasn't played an arbitrary number of tests for the Wallabies. I think the law should be based on the number of years you play Super Rugby - my proposal would be 4, a world cup cycle - not the number of tests you've played. If you've paid your dues to Australian rugby then you should be eligible to play for the Wallabies no matter where you're based.
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
It is very sad news about Carl Hayman. He was a year behind me at King's High School, Dunedin. At 13 he was almost the same size he was as an adult playing for Otago and the Highlanders. He came originally from Taranaki and had been earmarked as a player of significance very early on. To a degree his volition was not completely independent because of this. Right from a kid he was going to be a professional player you could say. I don't blame anyone in particular but we do now know more.