The 2023 Rugby World Cup is upon us (Wahoo!!). Having previously been perceived as being a ‘macho’ sport where no vulnerabilities were discussed, now more and more male rugby players are being open and honest about discussing issues such as mental health, how concussions are impacting them, issues to do with their physical health, the impact racism has had on black players and even being honest about their sexualility, which previously would never have been spoken about by rugby players.

So to celebrate the beginning of the tournament, here’s a XV of Irish rugby players who speak openly about issues within Diversity and Inclusion:

In this Irish Independent interview they say “Upon learning of the project (Tackle your feelings), McGrath immediately offered his services and, if he can, hopes to encourage anyone in the throes of internalising grief to take that first step in breaking their silence.” You can learn more about the Tackle Your Feelings campaign here.

He is now raising awareness of the impact of concussion and CTE on current and former rugby players telling rugbypass.com “he suffered approximately 25 concussions during his final year as a player, the majority of which he didn’t declare to his Leinster team doctor. Unfortunately, during my last season, my ability to play or sometimes train without concussion-like sensations was next to non-existent. Even warming up and hitting a tackle bag was often giving me a blinding headache – or I would temporarily lose my balance, or have a seeing-the-stars-like feeling. I have had no signs of any lasting brain damage since I retired. I know that I, along with other current or former players, can’t predict the future, but I look back on my playing days with fondness… Every time I hear about another player I do worry about my own brain health, to be honest, but I’m good at the moment and so I try not to think about it and keep looking forward”

“I had an eating disorder and went from being the biggest kid among my friends, to the skinniest…But all that distress and anguish I went through, is what made me who I am.”

Andrew is now an ambassador for The Irish Cancer Society and in 2022 he went on The Late Late Show on Daffodil Day and shaved his (long) hair to raise money for the organisation.

that they wouldn’t even be thinking about, but they are just doing it out of ignorance. So when you hear that you kind of just want to keep it to yourself. I didn’t really tell anyone [in Leinster], it kind of spread by word of mouth because I came out in sixth year, then when I went into the Leinster sub-academy, most of the people in my year in school knew”.

“It’s definitely on my mind that people could be like, he is the bisexual rugby player, instead of – he is a bisexual who plays rugby. But at the same time, maybe there are some kids across the country who could do with a role model,”.

This has led to numerous social entrepreneurship awards including the prestigious Social Entrepreneur Ireland Impact Award, the Social Innovation Fund and the Google Impact Award.

I lost a lot of motivation for things that would have excited me before. In my playing days, I had this intense desire to achieve. They say anxious, nervous people get a buzz out of being under pressure. It’s like there is a washing machine going around in my head and it’s very hard to switch that off.” Having complicated suicide Alan knew something had to change. He spoke to his GP and began seeing a psychotherapist, and slowly things improved. Alan now raises awareness of mental health to corporate companies and sports teams and tries to break the stigma, particularly trying to reach men with the message “it’s ok to ask for help.”

I mumbled something to my roommate Rhys Ruddock, who knew there was something seriously wrong and he sprinted down and got the doctors. Luckily after four or five minutes my strength came back. I was quickly put into hospital in Dublin for four days, and they found that I had a hole in my heart. It meant that the clot went into the heart instead of being cleared out through the lungs and it went up into the brain.

In the years since, he has become an ambassador for Northern Ireland’s Chest Heart and Stroke Association. Their website says “Chris has provided invaluable support to our work. In 2018, he was the face of our “Mini Stroke, Massive Warning campaign to help raise awareness of the symptoms of mini-stroke”. In 2018/19, he was awarded a Testimonial Season to mark his distinguished career in professional rugby. Chris chose to dedicate the year to raising funds and awareness to support our work. Events included a black-tie Gala dinner in Belfast City Hall, a golf day, a comedy night and a trek to Mount Toubkal in Morocco, all of which contributed to an outstanding fundraising total of £150,000.”

Axel’s family has continued his legacy since his passing. The year after his death Munster announced a partnership with The Irish Heart Foundation The Irish Examiner saying “The aim of the partnership is to highlight the importance of CPR training and raise awareness of the work carried out by the Foundation, with Munster players and staff undertaking training in CPR skills, The partnership begins with the Champions Cup game against Racing 92 in Thomond Park on Saturday, October 21, when Munster will wear the Irish Heart Foundation’s logo on the front of the players’ jerseys.”

My experience, since coming out though, has been entirely positive. I have realised that anyone who cares about you just wants you to be happy.

I only made a quick announcement. But I just remember the room erupting! They were all delighted for me and it was immediately a weight off my shoulders. I felt they understood my situation. It’s hard to perform at your best when you are carrying something, anything, and that’s the same for all the lads. For me it was my sexuality, for others it could be stuff at home, or studies or whatever. If one other person, one other kid, keeps playing their sport because they see a Leinster Rugby player has come out and is accepted, that would be a great outcome.

Unfortunately, my retina detached 18 months after the initial accident and that ended my career at the age of 21.” Having moved to Italy to coach, Ian began to play rugby again and went to the Irish National College of Art and Design and found Johnny Merrigan a researcher and lecturer in the college. Johnny told Ian he wanted to develop a set of protective rugby goggles to get him back playing. Having adjusted his game, Ian returned to the pitch, playing with his modified glasses in 2014. In 2017 Ian was called into the Italian Rugby squad qualifying under residency rules. Ian made his debut for Italy against Fiji in 2017 earning eight caps before retiring in 2021. Ian now works as the backs/assistant coach at Rainey RCF and as a pundit for Virgin Media and Premier Sports. In October 2022, Ian launched his autobiography Second Sight.

Ian and Robbie Henshaw were on hand to launch Vision Sports Ireland and IRFU Vision Impaired Rugby Coaching Guide in May 2023. The launch of the guide comes in advance of the first vision impaired rugby game to be held in Ireland, where Ireland’s Old Wesley Vision Impaired rugby team took on Harlequins vision impaired team, as part of Vision Sports Ireland’s Mayfest event celebrations.

It was while playing for Racing Metro in a game against Ulster that Simon was racially abused. Although the culprit was quickly found and given a lifetime ban by Ulster Rugby, the club apologised and distanced itself from the fan, it was only after this that Simon opened up about some of the racism he received growing up. Telling Johnny Watterson from The Irish Times that “he has suffered so many racist comments growing up in Ireland that he has almost become immune to them..It’s water off a duck’s back. I’d be bulletproof with that stuff. I dealt with that all my life growing up with children and teenagers and stuff, it’s so, so stupid. It was just to not accept it and turn a blind eye to it. That would have eaten me up – if I hadn’t said something about it. I was obviously trying to defend myself. But my kids will be privy to Google and all that stuff when they are older and I don’t want them to see bad stuff without me taking a stand on it”

Simon was quick to point out that he doesn’t think rugby has a problem with racism but more education in society is needed.

It was while playing for the Lions that Jared had to come off due to a concussion. He told RTE Sport “”Ever since then I haven’t been quite right. It’s been a bit stop-start. There’s been times when it hasn’t been too bad and other times when it’s been pretty bad. I have to listen to the medical advice and unfortunately give up the dream.”

I haven’t been to the gym since god knows when and don’t really do any exercise because I’m a bit worried that’s going to flare the head up because I still get headaches every now and then throughout the week if I have a big day or I spend too much time in front of the computer it sets things off a bit. We do take risks but at the end of the day you don’t want it impacting the rest of your life so people are doing the right thing these days the way they are looking after people.”

Jared took over as defence coach immediately after his retirement and in 2022 took over as defence coach of Clermont Auvergne

But after the crowds stop roaring and the sports person has to figure out what to do, post retirement can be a sad and lonely time.

Brian now runs a production company called 3 rock and they produced a documentary for BT Sports (who Brian works for as a rugby pundit) called After The Roar. In it, Brian interviews the likes of 20 time champion jump jockey AP McCoy, former footballer turned psychotherapist Richie Sadlier, former boxer Anthony Agogo, his former coach Michael Cheika and England cricketer Jonny Bairstow, as well as England manager Gareth Southgate about their journeys post retirement and how many of them have reinvented themselves in a new job or new career path.

There is obviously bipolar I as well, but bipolar II is probably the best out of the two to get. I was delighted to get the diagnosis; I was genuinely losing my mind.” After the book was released Keith was shocked by the reaction to it, with many people opening up to him about similar mental health issues they have.

As an Tackle Your Feelings ambassador, they released a new video in which he discusses the long road to recovery after an ankle injury and how countless setbacks impacted his mental wellbeing. In the video he discusses how he would have previously been stubborn and he didn’t think he needed anyone’s help, but how after reaching out to people and professionals (the Irish team psychologist for example) that he got a huge sense of relief and how speaking with his teammates he felt that he wasn’t the only one dealing with his injury. This reduced feelings of anger and frustration and improved his mental wellbeing. Finally he described how having patience with yourself is one of his biggest learnings from this time. 

Management Team:

Brent has been involved in several philanthropic works such as Habitat for Humanity, Cycle Against Suicide and has previously been an ambassador for Rehab’s People of the Year Awards. He is a wellness ambassador for Cornmarket, and has worked as a mental health advocate for nearly all of Ireland’s mental health charities over the years.

Brent speaks openly about the panic attacks, anxiety and depression he has had since he was a teenager. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It’s become something that I’ve become more tolerant about, I had years of shame and guilt around anxiety issues that I couldn’t really explain until later in life. But I go all around the country now talking to people who hopefully get a lot out of those talks.” He went back to college to qualify as a psychotherapist, and in his own words, “just to bring the science to add to his life experience.” 

Brent recently co-founded the Elephant in the Room project, where he has a dream of creating an international movement around greater mental health understanding, a project that combines his passion for talking mental health and art. “I am asking every organisation, business & individual in Ireland to help raise mental health awareness, while at the same time supporting charities that are literally saving lives. Let’s not be ashamed to address the “Elephant in the Room” anymore, and together we will start the conversation on mental health from the school room to the board room.” Over the next few years Brent is hoping that his herd of elephants will raise hundreds of thousands for various charities involved in mental health as well as create a safe and supportive environment for generations to come.