‘My world is falling apart’: Wales rugby icon Ryan Jones reveals heartbreaking dementia diagnosis at age 41 and admits he’s ‘terrified’ about the future… while claiming the sport is ‘eyes closed in catastrophic’ situation is ongoing’
- Ex-Wales captain Ryan Jones has been diagnosed with incipient dementia
- The 41-year-old admits he is ‘terrified’ about the future and the impact it will have
- He believes rugby ‘runs halfway with eyes closed in catastrophe’
- 200 ex-rugby players are thought to have been diagnosed with dementia and CTE
Former Wales captain Ryan Jones believes rugby is “in a catastrophic situation with eyes closed” after revealing he is suffering from early stage dementia.
In an emotional interview with The Sunday TimesJones, 41, has opened his diagnosis with both dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
He is following in the footsteps of England’s 2003 World Cup winning hooker Steve Thompson, another former Wales international in Alix Popham, and others in dealing with the illnesses.
Ryan Jones feels his ‘world is collapsing’ after being diagnosed with incipient dementia
The mail on Sunday understands the number of ex-players who have been diagnosed with early stage dementia and that the number of CTE is likely to reach 200.
“I feel like my world is collapsing,” said Jones, who won 75 Welsh caps and captained his country 33 times.
He also played in all three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005.
Jones continued: ‘I’m really scared. I’ve lived 15 years of my life as a superhero and I’m not. I don’t know what the future will bring.
‘I am a product of an environment that revolves around process and human performance. I can’t perform like I could. I just want to live a happy, healthy and normal life.
“I feel like that’s gone down and there’s nothing I can do.”
Jones followed in the footsteps of former England World Cup winner Steve Thompson
During a massive rugby weekend in which Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland all played the decisive role in the Southern Hemisphere crunch series, Jones’ testimony has shaken the sport.
Jones won three Six Nations Grand Slams with Wales in 2005, 2008 and 2012 and a championship title in 2013. He captained the successes of 2008 and 2012.
As late as 2020, Jones was employed by the Welsh Rugby Union, having worked for the governing body as Director of Community Rugby and then Director of Performance.
Last December, he was told of his diagnosis.
Jones’ partner Charley has described life with the former back row forward as “like a conversation with my 85-year-old grandfather.”
He believes rugby ‘walks headlong into a catastrophic situation with eyes closed’
Jones added: “I have three children and three stepchildren and I want to be a wonderful father.
“I can’t train harder, I can’t play the referee. I don’t know what the rules of the game are anymore.
“We don’t know where to go, where to find support. We have no friends in this room.
‘It frightens me. That’s the fear. That’s the little bit that never goes away.
“That’s the little bit I can’t shake.”