Section:GDN 1N PaGe:44 Edition Date:190821 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 20/8/2019 20:35 cYanmaGentaYellowb
Rugby’s players’ union has called for
urgent action to protect players’ men-
tal well being following stark warnings
from Kearnan Myall, the former Wasps
and England Saxons forward.
Myall has set off alarm bells across
the game and Damian Hopley, the
chief executive of the Rugby Players’
Association, is increasingly concerned
about the strain on modern players.
Myall’s bravery and honesty have
been universally applauded but his
searing account of being driven to the
brink of suicide and feeling unable to
seek help for fear of being dropped has
prompted questions about pastoral
care standards in rugby. Hopley says
around 10 % of Premiership players
each year phone the RPA’s confi dential
helpline to discuss mental problems.
“I think it’s really important from
a game-wide perspective that we
address it in a more urgent way and
do not wait for something terrible to
happen,” Hopley said. “This is not
going to go away. We’re seeing mount-
ing pressure on players on a seasonal
basis. We all recognise the huge strain
they’re being put under in terms of
performance and backing it up week
in week out.”
The RPA’s most recent survey of
past players found 62 % experienced
some kind of mental health problem
within two years of retiring. More than
half did not feel in control of their lives
two years after they retired and 50 %
have had fi nancial diffi culties in the
fi rst fi ve years after retiring. In addi-
tion 99% of retired pros believe players
should be given more assistance when
they fi nish playing.
Myall believes current players also
need more support and Hopley agrees.
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Rugby given
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