For many, John Kirwan is the kiwi rugby legend who played 63 Tests for New Zealand and scored tries at will. But in recent years, most will know John Kirwan as the man who went public with his battle with depression.

John Kirwan is a household name in New Zealand, and one of the most recognizable names in world rugby. Part of the 1987 All Blacks that lifted the inaugural World Cup against France, Kirwan’s try against Italy in the early stages of that tournament is still regarded as one of the finest ever scored.

Kirwan, who left school early to take up an apprenticeship at his father’s butcher shop, came onto the rugby scene before professionalism, but was one of the new breed of players who maximised commercial opportunities and led a very high profile life.

Very early on in his career, Kirwan appeared to have the world at his feet, and his being groomed as one of the true All Black greats. It was at this time, however, when he suffered his first panic attacks. Kirwan endured these attacks in silence until a tearful phone call home whilst playing rugby in Italy, which was put down to homesickness. Since that first tentative reach-out for help, Kirwan has endured a long struggle with ‘The Black Dog’ which surprised not only the kiwi and rugby public, but also his great friends within the All Blacks of the time, such as Cup Winning Captain David Kirk, former captain Sean Fitzpatrick and ‘Smokin’ Joe Stanley.

Kirwan was approached by The Ministry of Health to front a series of television ads to help publicise the prevalence of depression in New Zealand. Whilst being reluctant at first, his decision to go ahead was life changing, for him and for the kiwi public. After the second of the ads screened, almost 230,000 people called the helpline set up for the campaign, but the power of the campaign was brought home to him personally whilst standing in a queue one day when a man approached him to give thanks for ‘saving his life’.

John Kirwan has a cup winner’s medal for his exploits at the ’87 World Cup, and has left his fans with memories of a truly gifted player who, in his prime, ran rings around his opposition. He was awarded an MBE for services to mental health, but his greatest achievement is being able to call himself well, after many years of feeling anything but.

For more information, help and advice visit John Kirwan’s website.