Sport

Star first-five Beauden Barrett

Beauden Barrett has admitted he feared for his career, after experiencing the effects of concussion

Barrett hasn't played any rugby since the All Blacks' year-end tour, where he was forced from the field with concussion in New Zealand's 29-20 defeat to Ireland in Dublin. 

He has been struggling with the after effects of that concussion, making the most of his time away from rugby.

But speaking to French outlet L'Equipe, Barrett says he's only recently started to feel clear of any symptoms from the head knock, and worried it could have meant the end of his playing career.

"For two weeks, things have been much better. But throughout the off-season, I had migraines, 80 to 90 percent of the time," Barrett says.

"Today, it tends to fade, they have become rarer.”

"I thought it might be the end of my career. When you feel sluggish 99 per cent of the day, trying several ways to get better, but nothing works, you assume the worst.”

"And then you hear about teammates who have to end their careers because of concussions, it's more and more frequent. I thought it was my turn.”

Barrett also adds that he hopes to return to Super Rugby Pacific in some capacity in round three, when the Blues meet the Chiefs. 

The Blues are yet to begin their Super Rugby Pacific season, after their 2022 season opener was postponed by a covid-19 outbreak in the Moana Pasifika camp.

Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2016 and 2017, was also a nominee for the award in 2018, and is only the second player to win the award in back-to-back years, after former teammate Richie McCaw. 

He also won the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award in the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2019.

Barrett holds the world record for consecutive wins since his first test (19 wins from 19 tests).

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