Wales and Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has spoken out over his mental state during the November Internationals.
Priestland is currently recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon which has forced him to miss the Six Nations, and admitted that at times last November he did not want to take the field.
A breakthrough star for Wales during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Priestland continued his outstanding form as Wales won the Grand Slam in last year's Six Nations, before a miserable run of eight consecutive Test defeats set in.
"I wasn't really enjoying rugby, especially at the start of the autumn internationals I didn't really want to be on the field," said Priestland to BBC Radio Wales.
"After the Samoa game was probably my lowest point. I remember speaking to [Wales interim head coach] Rob Howley and... I said, 'I'm not happy, I'm not looking forward to going on the field'.
"I'm going on the field and I just don't want to make mistakes and I've never played like that.
"I found it quite tough and off the field things weren't going that well for me.
"I remember him [Howley] asking me, 'Do you want to play against the All Blacks?' and I couldn't answer him straight away, and I couldn't believe that I had to think about things like that.
"After the Samoa game I saw Andy McCann, who's the sports psychologist with the squad, and from the first time I met him it was such a weight off my shoulders, just nice to speak to somebody.
"I'm not the sort of person who can easily ask for help, so just being able to speak to somebody and put things in perspective helped me a lot.
"I thought I turned things around quite well from the first two games to the second two games and I was really happy with the way things were going. Then obviously my injury happened but it's just one of those things."
With his achilles injury forcing him to miss out on a possible spot on the Lions tour, Priestland believes the blow could help him in the long-term as he continues to feel progress in his recovery on a daily basis.
"I think my body was crying out for a break; my shoulder was sore, my back was sore, my knees were sore," added Priestland
"Obviously I didn't want to rupture my Achilles but I've had this break now and it's given me the chance to sort the rest of my body out, it could be a blessing in disguise.
"Because I haven't got much rugby commitments now I can concentrate on the aspects I need to sort out. I'm enjoying it to be honest.
"I'm probably about halfway now, so hopefully back the start of April but who knows?
"Rupturing your Achilles isn't what it used to be, you used to be out for six to nine months but now it's four or five months.
"Every day I come in it's improving and I can see the step by steps I need to take to get it better and I'm quite enjoying it, to be honest."
Comments
5Lock4ward says...
@kybone, Well put. Nobody would be bashing him if he had a broken leg and sought help or was worried about first contact in the tackle after returning from the injury. But if it's a mental injury or illness people want to put the person down. An injury or illness to the body is the same as one to the mind in terms of needing to be addressed properly.
Posted 23:45 19th February 2013
jontheref says...
Agree about the guy and his depression, but Howley showed how blinkered he was in not dealing with the guy professionally, and considering hiswelfare.
As to his form, I also agree that he had not played well since the Irish game in february 2012.
He was kept in place at the exclusion of Hook during the Aus games, when Hook had played extremely well during the midweek game.
Different level, but that was all he was given to show form, and he did.
He has always looked fragile, does not have the dog in him that Jones, Hook or Biggar have. Different person. let's hope he can rehabilitate. Plenty of young 10's coming through, but they all need more time.
Posted 08:31 19th February 2013
simojukes says...
@kybone, RugbyLocos and Trelawney.
have to completely agree with the 3 of you. plenty of players go through stages of not enjoying their rugby, because of plenty of reasons. credit must be given to Priestland for having the bravery to actually come clean and admit it.
the kid suffered a drop in form, and he began to question whether he was the best man to be playing 10 for wales (a position which does come with more pressure than most, and especially in wales)
it is extremely probable that warburton is having similar problems, but he is "unfortunate" enough to have stayed fit (excluding 1 week), and hasnt had time away from the game to clear his head.
this happens to plenty of young players, at all levels. people should not be having a pop at the players telling them to "man up", because at the end of the day, they deal with a hell of a lot more pressure than anyone posting here (how often do you stand there with the pressure of a nation on your shoulders?)
oh, and @HeadHunter99. you are trying to liken preistland to henson?!?! Priestland is a young lad who lost form and began to worry that he couldnt make any mistakes. Henson is a guy who was too worried with his appearance, celebrity lifestyle and various tarts that the rugby began to come 2nd. VERY different cases.
Posted 21:09 17th February 2013
mlbp says...
@kybone
Spot on.
Everybody has their ups and downs in everyday life, imagine in a sport where there is pressure in every sense, physical and psychological. You cannot only tell somebody who is suffering like he seems to be suffering now "man up". You have to help them with caring words. We cannot push them until the brink of breakdown.
To give an example about jobs where there is precedent of serious consequences of mental breakdown, miners have gone through periods of mental suffering that have caused serious accidents at work. Of course being a rugby player is different, but those of you who seem to deride Rhys Priestland have to acknowledge that if you were under such pressure you would probably suffer the consequences too. Maybe none of us readers would have gone half way up the rungs of the ladder of professionalism he has reached.
Take care of yourself, Rhys. Seek professional help. There's more than your professional career at stake.
Posted 19:57 17th February 2013
trelawney says...
kybone
Your post is very true. A lot of professional sportsmen and women suffer from depression. Take Marcus Trescothic (Somerset & England), Luke Wright (Sussex & England) both suffered from depression, but both came through with specialist help.
Posted 15:38 17th February 2013
RugbyLocos says...
kybone.....
I totally agree with your posting. People deal with stress / depression in different ways and this goes for sportspeople also. Younger sportspeople find it even more difficult to deal with these things, as they have less experience and are less mature.
What I can't understand is why Howley ¨asked¨ if he wanted to play against the All-blacks if he had already identified the problem. The management team should have made the decision themselves and put a stop to his misery. The average age of professional rugby players is getting younger and younger and so the ¨early stardom syndrome¨ is an important issue that will need to be addressed.
On the same note: Howley, are you that opposed to playing James Hook at Nş10 that you had to push a young lad to the edge of a nervous breakdown???
Posted 10:14 17th February 2013
kybone says...
Reading some of the comments in this article worries me a little, especially considering the rsponse from most of the posters. I think most of us on here will know about and remember what happened to Gary Speed. For those that don't, he was a retired Welsh footballer who went on to manage the national team. He committed suicide completely out of the blue, or so people thought. It was later discovered that he was severely depressed.
Depression in sport is a serious issue which doesn't really seem to be dealt with in the open, especially in a macho sport like ours. Then you have comments like 'man up' and 'get on with it'. The lad seems to have some serious issues and its easy for us fans to underestimate the pressure that the Welsh 10, or any high profile 10 for that matter, is under. He seems like he was scared to death about the consequences of playing badly, and thats not a good place to be in. Remember not everyone is as mentally strong as Jonny Wilkinson or Dan Carter, and not everyone has the ability to take criticism and use it as motivation or just brush it off.
Posted 15:35 16th February 2013
Headhunter99 says...
Poor little Welsh Lamb !!!! What is it about modern day Welsh 10's Henson, Priestland.. if you can't handle the pressure don't be a professional Rugby player, if you have to think about whether you want to play against the All Blacks you should not ever be in an international squad. Playing against them is the pinnacle of most players careers.
Look back over time and the great Welsh 10's like John, Bennett would have played with one arm working and a broken leg if they had needed to.This kid needs to grow up, I know he's injured and fed up but he should look at people like Wilkinson who still managed to get through it.
Mind you Howley doesn't really come out of this with much credit.
Posted 09:12 16th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Weird. He's coming good and the fans now turn on him. He was worried about weaknesses of his game. That happens in a failing squad. He's only as good as his pack and they were second best against all opponents since Gslam. Not sure they've turned it around yet either. Although the confidence from France will go some way, a bad 10 minutes and they're back in the dodos.
Posted 07:59 16th February 2013
stugur says...
shoodydo.
Couldn't agree more. I think he has probably cost them a 1/2 a dozen games, 2 against OZ. The sooner Biggar gets into the groove the better.
Posted 05:25 16th February 2013
hellovanite says...
Mate, go have a chat with John Kirwan
Posted 02:15 16th February 2013
PREEST says...
I think hes young and needs to man up. A team will have dips in form, you can't staet saying woe is me. Get stuck in. If you start crying and self doubting just because you loose a few games then you shouldn't be playing rugby. Turn a loss into motivation.
Posted 00:41 16th February 2013
shoobydo says...
"Priestland continued his outstanding form as Wales won the Grand Slam in last year's Six Nations"
I thought he lost form straight after the WC and was being carried by a good team last year.
This may sound harsh, but he's maybe had 4 or 5 decent games in 22 caps.
No wonder why he's having doubts.
Posted 18:36 15th February 2013
daibok says...
If he didnt want to be on the field then he surely shouldnt have been playing? He should have declined and the coaching staff should certainly have acted. What is the point of the squad psychologist? How the hell can you play half heartedly for your country?
Posted 16:38 15th February 2013