“It’s like seeing when you wake up that your phone is only 30% charged and knowing that you’ll have to last the day with it. The image is as telling as it is chilling. At only 43 years old, the ex-All Black Carl Hayman is facing the first signs of dementia, a pathology which affects hundreds of former rugby players who have taken legal action.
“Basically, that means I have a limited amount of brain power per day,” says the former New Zealand prop, who now complains of memory loss and has even confessed to suicidal thoughts due to the progression of his neurodegenerative disease. “That’s the best way to sum up my situation and you always have to be careful about what you’re doing and how you want to spend that energy. »
Like him, more and more rugby players, but also other sports players, now admit to suffering from neurological disorders (permanent brain damage, early dementia, post-traumatic epilepsy, depression, etc.) caused by repeated shocks during their career. The former All Blacks and Toulon player, where he recently returned for a few days to celebrate his induction into the Hall of Fame, played more than 400 games in his career, including 45 with his selection, before retiring in 2015 .
“Everyone is ostrich”
Along with former players suffering from similar disorders such as former English hooker Steve Thompson or Welsh third line Alix Popham, he has also joined a collective action to denounce the inaction of various authorities in recent years.
“I did not join this legal procedure for financial reasons, but to see this sport change from the inside, he justified himself. To take better care of the players. “He is campaigning in particular for an evolution of the calendar in order to reduce the infernal cadences which the players are confronted with. “Does it make sense to play ten months out of the year? Should players play every weekend, every year for 10 months? asks Hayman, who now sells boat tours in New Zealand.
“I have my little idea because I was part of it all. All these discussions should take place as soon as possible, otherwise it will be detrimental to our sport, he still judges. I don’t think this path will be traveled in five months but it would be great because this subject remains a bit of a taboo in sport and everyone is in the ostrich. »
