Former Hurricanes loosehead prop Reggie Goodes is not worried that he may suffer the after-effects of repeated concussions that forced him into early retirement.
Goodes, who made 60 appearances for the Canes in Super Rugby between 2012 and 2016 and also played 45 games for Wellington, hung up his boots aged just 26.
Born in Witbank and schooled at Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, he emigrated to New Zealand as a teenager with his parents in 2006.
His decision to retire in 2018 was prompted by doctors’ advice after being sidelined for 12 months with his third concussion in less than two years.
In a wide-ranging interview with Stuff.nz, the now 30-year-old Goodes addressed the issue of concussion and risk of early onset dementia among elite rugby professionals.
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“A lot of people ask me, ‘do you get nervous about whether it is going to affect you when you are 50 or 60?’” said Goodes, who has been involved with age-group coaching in New Zealand as well as educating young players who have been concussed.
“I am like, ‘why be anxious now?’ There is no point stressing for 30 years, waiting for something that may not happen. I will just go on with life as it is. Personally, I am okay now.
“You never know. I think I made the right decision to retire. Who knows?”
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While Goodes isn’t plagued by the symptoms that forced him to retire, he knows calling it quits when he did was the right call.
“I had a year of trying to get rid of symptoms, and trying to get back. But I kind of knew in my head, ‘this could be it’,” he said.
“Yes, it was tough. I grew up in South Africa, which was rugby-mad, and was then a New Zealand supporter. You play rugby at school, but you always work hard because of the opportunity to be professional in your teens and 20s.
“And obviously I had to stop. That is the tough bit about it. But, at the same time, everyone has got an expiry date in rugby. Mine just came a bit earlier, which gave me the opportunity to do things while I am still young.”
Photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images