Rugby's Brutal Reality: Player Health and the Sport's Future with Carl Hayman

Watching my son play rugby recently brought to light the concerning decline of the sport in Aotearoa and the impact it has on player health. I was privileged to interview former All Black prop Carl Hayman, who shares his struggles with early onset dementia as a result of his rugby career. Together, we delve into the evolution of rugby over the past 25 years, from the emergence of professional rugby in 1995 to its current state, and discuss the decline in participation at the grassroots level as elite players become bigger, faster, and stronger. In this thought-provoking conversation, we also consider rugby's impact on mental health and the need for better support systems for players dealing with head injuries. We touch on the tragic story of Bruce Robinson, a great All-Black who died of dementia, likely due to head injuries sustained during his playing days. Carl's experiences with memory loss and the toll rugby has taken on him paint a vivid picture of the consequences of the game's physicality. Lastly, we explore the potential future of rugby in Aotearoa, discussing the implications of open grade rugby and the possibility of short, dynamic competitions. Questions arise about the necessity for the sport to be played 10 months of the year and the potential influence of television on the game's survival. It's an emotional conversation with Carl Hayman as we grapple with the hard truths about rugby's impact on player health and the sport's uncertain future. --------- EPISODE CHAPTERS --------- (0:00:10) - Rugby's Impact on Player Health(0:11:40) - Rugby Decline, Carl Heyman's Health(0:16:31) - Rugby and Brain Health(0:26:15) - Rugby's Impact on Mental Health(0:33:26) - Rugby and Letters to the Editor