England rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson was diagnosed with dementia in 2020 (Image: X/TNT Sports)
icon Steve Thompson tragically struggles to remember the names of his own children and cannot recall parts of their triumph in 2003 .
The 47-year-old was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2020, which has left him with huge gaps in his memory.
In a TNT Sports documentary due to be aired today (December 11), Thompson sat down with former team-mate Phil Vickery to explain the extent of damage his condition has already done to his cognitive abilities.
And when asked of what he recalled from the famous triumph against Australia 21 years ago, Thompson sadly struggled to find the memories for which he could reflect upon.
Speaking from the former flanker’s house in Cheshire, Vickery began: “What do you remember of 2003?”
An emotional Thompson replied: “It’s weird. There’s nothing there. I can’t even remember being in Australia. The whole lot is gone and there’s nothing there. My life, everything around then, is just not there.”
Vickery quizzed: “What about anything from when we got back, from the open top bus or the palace?” to which Thompson said: “No, nothing. It’s just not there.”
In one scene, the pair are seen pointing to pictures of his four young children – Seren, Slone, Saskia and Saxon – as he struggles to recall their names.
England rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson struggled to recall his children’s names (Image: X/TNT Sports)
Trigger Warning: SuicideAt the age of 42, Steve Thompson was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE. As part of ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????: ?????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????, Steve shares the impact of his diagnosis on his life and his recollection of the 2003 World Cup…
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt)
The ex-Northampton Saints player elaborated on the mental health issues he has been battling with as a consequence of his dementia condition.
“My life has turned upside down. Getting lost, memory issues and anger issues,” he added. “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.
“When I see myself or see the other lads I feel like a phoney in a way. Like it weren’t me that was there. Like I didn’t do it.”
Thompson was one of the key members of Sir Clive Woodward’s squad as they became national heroes, playing in all but one of their games on their path to World Cup success.
Steve Thompson played in all but one of England’s World Cup matches in 2003 (Image: Getty)
He went on to win 73 caps for his country and scored 20 points across his nine-year international stint.
But when asked if he would repeat his rugby heroics if given the chance, Thompson made a heartbreaking admission.
“The thing with rugby is, if I had my time again, I wouldn’t do it. I’d much rather just go and work on a building site, have a normal life,” he said.
“The way I look at is, that was our job, we got asked to do that. And you do it to the best of your ability. You don’t question anything around it. And that’s why we probably did as well as we did.”
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