Former England star can't remember Rugby World Cup triumph, says dementia makes him feel 'phoney'

Former England rugby star Steve Thompson says he feels like a "phoney" because he cannot remember being part of the 2003 World Cup-winning team, two years after being diagnosed with early onset dementia.

The ex-hooker, 44, is one of scores of former players who have decided to sue a number of governing bodies for negligence.

Thompson features in a BBC documentary: "Head On: Rugby, Dementia and Me" to be aired on Wednesday - a day after new research was published suggesting elite players could be at a significantly greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson's and dementia.

Glasgow consultant neuropathologist Willie Stewart, who led the research team, has called for urgent action, saying the sport should minimise contact training and reduce its global calendar.

Thompson, diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in November 2020, has packed away his medals and trophies.

"Around four years ago some of my strongest memories started disappearing, precious private moments and all the career highlights of two decades of rugby. So much so I packed away all my most precious memorabilia because having it around was just too painful," he said in the documentary.

He added: "When people say 'Oh, you got a World Cup medal' and all this I feel like a phoney.

"Because it feels like I haven't done it because I can't remember it and it doesn't feel like me so sometimes when people in public talk about it I get embarrassed by it."

Thompson, who sometimes forgets the names of his children in the film, said he believes he is suffering as a result of multiple head impacts he endured as a player, saying concussion protocols at the time were not safe.

"If