Rugby icon, 47, heartbreakingly says he ‘can’t remember my career’ | Rugby | Sport
Former France rugby star Sebastien Chabal has admitted that he doesn’t remember “a single second of a rugby match” he played in during an illustrious career. Chabal, now 47, made 62 appearances for his country, including at the 2007 World Cup.
Chabal last played for Lyon before retiring from the sport in 2014, having been one of the most popular players in France during his 11 years with the national team. So much so that ‘Chabalmania’ became a hot topic across the country. He also spent five years in England, in addition to spells with Racing Metro and Bourgoin, playing over 100 times for Sale Sharks and winning the 2005/06 Premiership.
But Chabal has opened up on his struggles with memory loss in retirement, admitting that his distinguished career has been completely forgotten.
“I don’t remember a single second of a rugby match I’ve played. And I don’t remember a single one of the 62 Marseillaises (France’s national anthem) I’ve experienced,” he said on the Legend YouTube show.
“I don’t talk about it, because it’s just my business, but there are quite a few actions that are carried out by former players, in teams, because we’ve taken a hit on the helmet. There’s the pate that hit the marrow.
“I don’t remember anything. Sometimes I say to my wife: ‘Actually, I wasn’t the one who played rugby’.
“When I talk about it at home with my wife, I tell her that I have the impression that it wasn’t me who played rugby. And since I [have] always thought I was a bit of an imposter, I got there a bit by chance. With the fact of not remembering, I have the impression that it wasn’t me.”
When asked if he goes to the doctor to address such health issues, he replied: “Why bother? My memory won’t return. I’m rediscovering my life. Before playing rugby, I never realised that I don’t remember anything.”
Chabal said that he has not consulted a neurologist and no longer remembers the birth of his daughter.
“I have a few childhood memories,” he explained. “I think it’s because people told me about them. I don’t have this memory of past moments.”
Known by French fans as L’Homme des Cavernes, or ‘The Caveman’ due to his long hair and beard, those supporters will be devastated to learn that Chabal cannot share in remembering their fondest memories.
Chabal added: “The problem of concussions is not new in a sport where impacts are sometimes very violent, despite all the actions put in place to try to remedy it.”
In recent years, World Rugby have introduced a number of initiatives aimed at curbing potential head injuries. This includes a lower tackling height, changes to head injury assessments, a zero-tolerance approach to head contact and gumshields that can detect strong impacts to the head.
