Legendary French rugby player Sebastien Chabal has disclosed that he is suffering from significant memory loss since his retirement, possibly due to repeated concussions during his career.
In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Legend, hosted by French media personality Guillaume Pley, Chabal, 47, made these surprising revelations about his mental health.
“I have no memory of a single second of a rugby match I played,” Chabal confessed. “And I don’t remember a single one of the 62 times I sang the French national anthem.”
He also shared that he has few memories from his childhood, which he believes are only recalled because others have spoken about them. “I don’t have memories of past moments,” he said. “When I talk to my wife, I often feel like it wasn’t even me who played rugby.”
Chabal admitted to feeling like an “imposter” during his career, suggesting that he had arrived at rugby by chance. The memory loss, he said, only reinforces that feeling.
Despite his struggles, Chabal did not mention concussions directly during the interview, nor has he consulted a neurologist. “Why see a doctor? The memory won’t return,” he said.
The former player, who had successful stints with Lyon, Racing 92, and Sale Sharks, also shared that he cannot recall the birth of his daughter. Chabal, who earned 62 Test caps for France between 2000 and 2011, was once the highest-paid rugby player in the world during his time at Racing 92.
Chabal’s revelations are part of a growing conversation about head trauma in rugby. In December 2023, it was revealed that 295 former players are suing World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, and the Welsh Rugby Union. They accuse these bodies of negligence for failing to protect players from repetitive concussions and sub-concussive blows, leading to conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early-onset dementia.
The lawsuit is still in its pre-trial phase. While World Rugby has expressed sympathy, the governing body has warned that legal action may limit their ability to provide direct support to players.
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