Former Wallaby Dan Vickerman dead at 37

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/feb/19/dan-vickerman-former-wallabies-player-dies-aged-37

Very sad and unexpected

15:53:53

Rugby Fan wrote:https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/feb/19/dan-vickerman-former-wallabies-player-dies-aged-37

Apparently its being treated as suicide. Ubelievably sad whatever the circumstances

I can only echo how sad it is.

Another sad loss. 37 what a sad sad loss.

Tragic news. RIP.

I'm massively jumping to conclusions here without knowing anything about the circumstances, so apologies in advance, but I believe there's a growing body of evidence linking concussion and depression/suicide. Very sad. There's been a few recent cases of suicide in former rugby players I think.

Griff wrote:Tragic news. RIP.

I'm massively jumping to conclusions here without knowing anything about the circumstances, so apologies in advance, but I believe there's a growing body of evidence linking concussion and depression/suicide. Very sad. There's been a few recent cases of suicide in former rugby players I think.

I was wondering that too but also suspect that we are seeing more deaths because professionalism has raised the profile of these players in the first place and now we are getting to the point where there are more ex pros getting older and sometimes dying.

They did find the link in American football though - so it would not be the biggest surprise if you were correct.

Not just the frequency of concussions though i am sure that he has had several, but i also imagine the lifestyle change leaving rugby exacerbates those predisposed to depression.
You go from a high profile environment where you're surrounded by fellow pro athletes, driven motivated people, to commercial real estate. Losing the camaraderie and sense of purpose you have been driven by in pro sport can't be easy.

Yes, that is perhaps a confounding factor. Career transition, I think they call it. However, Cae Trayhern, Pontypool RFC stalwart and captains, with a few Dragons caps too, committed suicide just before Christmas. His family are convinced that the concussions are to blame and that his personality became much changed as a result of them. Not a scientific study of course, but another example of this sort of thing happening.

How very upsetting

I find it hard to grasp just how desperate a man must feel to end his life when he has a wife and two kids.

Think of the side those boys must be putting together.

Van de Westhuizen, Kruger, Foley, Collins, Vickerman, Lauaki, Lomu.

Gwlad wrote:Think of the side those boys must be putting together.

Van de Westhuizen, Kruger, Foley, Collins, Vickerman, Lauaki, Lomu.

Absolutely. As they say about heaven in the Borders, there had better be bloody rugby. 

Bill McLaren needs something to commentate on.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11804231

Tragic