Former England rugby star Steve Thompson has revealed he sometimes forgets his own children’s names as he battles early-onset dementia.
The devastating admission comes in a new TNT documentary, ‘Unbreakable: England 2003’, where the 46-year-old World Cup winner shares his daily struggles with memory loss.
Thompson, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2020, can no longer remember winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup or even being in Australia for the tournament.
In an emotional conversation with former teammate Phil Vickery at his Cheshire home, Thompson struggled to recall the names of his four children while looking at their photos.
Steve Thompson has opened up on his dementia diagnosis
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The former hooker has boxed away all his medals, trophies and mementos since his diagnosis at age 42.
“It’s weird,” Thompson told Vickery in the documentary. “There’s nothing there. I can’t even remember being in Australia. The whole lot is gone.”
He cannot recall the post-tournament celebrations or the team’s palace visit to receive their OBEs from Queen Elizabeth II.
“My life has turned upside down — getting lost, memory issues, and anger issues,” Thompson explained.
Throughout his career, he experienced ‘the white dots’ almost weekly, though he can’t remember his first or last concussion.
Thompson revealed his battle with suicidal thoughts and overwhelming guilt towards his family.
“I went through a massive guilt stage for the kids and Steph. Then I’ve been close to suicide. You feel like you’re the most selfless person if you went,” he admitted.
The former England star also expressed feeling disconnected from his past achievements.
“When I see myself or see the other lads, I feel like a phoney in a way. Like it wasn’t me that was there. Like, I didn’t do it,” Thompson said in the documentary.
His candid revelations highlight the profound impact of his condition on both his mental health and family life.
Steve Thompson enjoyed a fine career in rugby
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Despite his illustrious career, Thompson now regrets choosing rugby as his profession.
“If I had my time again, I wouldn’t do it,” he told Vickery. “I’d much rather just go and work on a building site, have a normal life.”
Thompson’s career included nine years at Northampton Saints, making 195 appearances.
He played in all but one of England’s matches during their 2003 World Cup triumph, having made his England debut just a year earlier.
Steve Thompson was part of the England squad to win the World Cup
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Even after breaking his neck in 2007, Thompson continued playing until 2011, when another neck injury finally ended his 13-year professional career.
“The way I look at it, that was our job. We got asked to do that, and you do it to the best of your ability,” he reflected.
In 2020, Thompson joined a group of former players in a legal action against rugby’s governing bodies over alleged negligence regarding head injuries.
Steve Thompson has taken legal action against rugby’s governing bodies
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The case, which includes other prominent players like Michael Lipman and Alix Popham, is expected to go to trial in 2025.
Thompson has become the first athlete to pledge his brain for research into brain trauma like CTE.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2020, he said: “I don’t want the game to stop, but it’s just everyone at the top looking down, saying the main asset of this lovely game is the players. We’ve got to make sure we treat them like that.”
In April, Thompson criticised rugby authorities on Good Morning Britain, challenging their player welfare priorities.
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