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'If you're in a number of car crashes it's prudent probably not to be in the car': The London Irish verdict on Brophy-Clews' concussion-enforced retirement

(Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

Declan Kidney has described Theo Brophy-Clews as a glue-type player whose personality and character epitomised the London Irish ethos that the ex-Ireland coach has been building at the club over the past three years. Brophy-Clews recently announced his retirement as a player at the age of just 24 following his latest concussion in last month’s Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat at Bath.

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That fixture took place on April 9 and it was 42 days later when the news broke that the back with heaps of unfulfilled potential would have to retire with immediate effect. He made the announcement via an open letter posted on the various London Irish social media forums and it caused great sadness that Brophy-Clews was lost to the game after just 63 appearances since a 2015/15 debut for the club.

Four days after the player made his news public, Kidney gave his thoughts on the sudden loss of a player who had been a regular in the team this season. “That is the loss for us really, he was a brilliant clubman, the club meant so much to him,” said the coach. “His rugby knowledge is right up there, he is very good for working guys around, he can play that 10, 12 role really well. He is a very good team person in and around it. Without a doubt, he will be a loss. 

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“You can talk about all the high profile players as well but when it comes to the players that hold clubs together Theo is one of those ones in a great mixture between upcoming academy players and senior players as well then too because he was playing senior rugby before I arrived three years ago, so even though he is a young man he has been playing senior rugby for about five years. He will be a loss.”

Explaining the rationale behind the retirement of Brophy-Clews, Irish boss Kidney added: “It wasn’t the first of those type of injuries that he had received because has had some other ones earlier on in his career over a period of time. It wasn’t just so much one and this one wasn’t rushed into by any matter of means either. All the specialists were consulted, all the talking through with it, it wasn’t a sudden knee jerk reaction in any shape or form.

“This is just something that had been building up… look, if you are in a car crash you don’t stop getting back into the car but after a while, if you are in a number of car crashes it’s prudent probably not to be in the car, isn’t it? In Theo’s case, there had been a few other head knocks over the course of his career and it just got to the stage where, ‘Okay, with all the advice given on things like that maybe this is not for me’.”

Kidney reckoned the decision by Brophy-Clews to retire young was a reflection of the way concussions issues are now being addressed in the sport. “There was probably a certain amount of machoism going on before, wasn’t there, ‘Oh I’m grand, I will just get on with it’. 

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“Now that people know the long-term effects that it may have – I can only say the word may, we’d all have our own different beliefs on that – but it’s now more in the public domain and as a progression of it somebody is going to make decisions along the way that are going to be right, so rather than someone saying, ‘Oh, I played on’, somebody is saying now, ‘No, I have had my innings, I have had a good innings with it’ which is what Theo has said, ‘I’d love to keep doing it but it’s the right thing to step back from it now.”

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Hellhound 7 minutes ago
What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.


Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.


As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

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RedWarrior 48 minutes ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.

Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.

Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.

They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.

That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.

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