If you look out on your television screen and on billboards around the country, then you will likely have seen Nick Youngquest’s face on there.
The former professional rugby league star turned model has been the face of Paco Rabanne for a number of years after hanging up his boots back in 2012.
Youngquest had played 114 games for seven different clubs with his most prosperous rugby being played at the Crusaders RL and then Castleford Tigers where the winger registered 29 and 40 appearances respectively.
But, when asked in an interview in the Spirit of Sport podcast on Spotify with former NRL forward Tim Mannah, the 38-year-old revealed his horror symptoms following retirement.
“I miss the camaraderie in the locker room, but when you think about rugby league, it’s brutal.
“I take medications from too many concussions as I started having seizures when I retired – it’s a daily reminder of the physicality behind the sport and the dangers associated with a traumatic brain injury.
“I loved my time and I got to experience so many different cultures, but do I miss it? Putting on the boots and playing against big men, absolutely not!”
Youngquest continued: “I started having seizures two or three months after I retired, but before that I never had any issues.
“I was walking along the Champs Elysees in Paris, on a day off and just collapsed and had a seizure on the side of the road.
“I had three or four after that and then started taking medication after that which means it’s manageable for me.”
