A rugby legend. A dementia diagnosis. And the game that failed him - The Sunday Story

At his peak, Carl Hayman was widely regarded as the world's best tighthead prop. Then, in 2021, at just 41, he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE, a disease he believes was caused by the sport he loves, and one that has torn his life apart. In this intimate and devastating interview with David Walsh, Carl describes what happened, what he’s doing for the players who come after him, and what concussion means for rugby’s future. The final part of a two-part special investigation into the crisis facing this global game. You can listen to part one here . This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times.

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A rugby legend. A dementia diagnosis. And the game that failed him - The Sunday Story is an episode from Stories of our times by The Times.

This episode is 38:22 long.

This episode was published on May 3, 2026.

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