Jamie Cudmore: Concussions almost forced me to retire

A month of mood swings, headaches and insomnia almost forced Jamie Cudmore to abandon his World Cup plans and retire this summer.

The veteran Clermont lock was forced into a three-month lay-off after a string of concussion problems, reaching the brink of retirement before making a full recovery.

The talismanic second row celebrated his 37th birthday in Canada's final World Cup warm-up clash against Fiji, his third game in nine days after wins over Glasgow and Georgia on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Cudmore is now looking forward to competing at his fourth World Cup as Canada bid to upset the odds in a Pool D campaign that starts against Ireland in Cardiff on September 19.

"I had three months off. I went through all the protocols and all the tests, the neurological work-ups and stuff," said Cudmore.

"It was very scary - the whole month of June I was sitting on my couch, I couldn't watch TV, couldn't really do anything.

"It's cliched to say it but I'm living the dream. I've worked before... I don't want to go back to that right away!

"I was stuck between the World Cup and retirement.

"I had all kinds of symptoms: headaches, being very irritable, tired when you shouldn't be tired, then being really tired and not being able to sleep.

"That was really bizarre, just lying down and closing your eyes and not being able to sleep. It was tough, but thankfully with rest and the right medical help I'm out the other side."

Enforcer

His summer health scare carefully negotiated, Cudmore is intent on plying his physical trade as long as possible.

While most enforcers are already into retirement by their mid-30s, Cudmore is as comfortable as ever hitting rucks and leading lineouts.

The Squamish native grew up working club doors, logging trees and breaking down cars before rugby transformed his life.

Some 20 years down the line, he still keeps his real-world experience in the forefront of his mind, as much for perspective as motivation.

"It's cliched to say it but I'm living the dream," said Cudmore. "I've worked before... I don't want to go back to that right away!

"I logged trees, I built houses, I was in construction, I worked in a wrecking yard breaking cars down, I was a doorman, all kinds of jobs.

"I'm very happy to be able to be paid to play rugby, I'm very lucky, and so I'm determined to have fun doing it.

"And I'm going to keep going as long as I can.

"You get found out pretty quick if you can't move when logging trees. We used to have a race every morning to see who could get wet the fastest.

"You've got to get wet to get warm - the faster you get wet, the faster you get warm, then you're good to go all day."

Threat

Cudmore is determined not to let professionalism disintegrate his sport.

Clermont's long-serving lock cites the "football attitude" as the greatest threat to rugby's traditional anchors of respect and humility.

"That's a key, key thing, keeping rugby's ethics," said Cudmore. "You play hard, you shake hands - there's a good level of respect.

"I can see it already with guys coming through the academies, that football attitude is not far off, for some.

"If those values disappear we're going to go the way that soccer's already gone, and that would be really sad for the game that I love.

"That's the biggest thing I try to instil when I coach, to make sure that the good ethic is protected."