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Pontypool CEO Ben Jeffreys takes leave of absence to battle depression
By Liam Heagney
Welsh club Pontypool RFC have confirmed that Ben Jeffreys has taken a temporary leave of absence as the club’s chief executive officer to receive inpatient hospital treatment for depression.
In a statement, the club said: “Ben has been admitted to Priory Hospital Bristol and will give his full focus to addressing these mental health challenges in the coming weeks.
“Everybody at Pontypool RFC stands behind Ben as he takes this positive step and we look forward to welcoming him back to Pontypool Park as soon as he feels he is ready to return to the club.
“Please remember that #ItsOkayNotToBeOkay and if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, mental health helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.”
In a walesonline.co.uk interview last October for World Mental Health Day, Jeffreys spoke about how an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) drove him to the brink of suicide and how working at Pontypool RFC saved his life in 2013 following a serious illness to his wife and his dad suffering a stroke shortly after paying off all outstanding debts and taking full control of the rugby club.
“I was suicidal but was not able to pull the trigger,” he admitted about a period in his life where he collapsed with exhaustion. “I would cross roads not looking, hoping a bus or car was coming and the driver would end it all.
“But my condition, coupled with the fear of losing the two people closest to me, meant I was about to hit absolute rock bottom. After volunteering for several months to get the club back up and running, I was appointed chief executive officer.
“I felt totally undeserving of the role at the time, particularly when I was still coming to terms with my father’s ill health, as well as battling with my own mental health.
“Nonetheless, I believe it came at the right time. I needed a sense of purpose and an opportunity to grow as a person. In short, Pontypool RFC saved my life.”
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Latest Comments
Very naughty boy!
Go to comments"Interestingly its you who now seem to be renouncing the UEFA style points system, because you don't like the outcome of reducing URC representation."
No, as I have clearly written and no need to be a "mind reader" this time, I don't like the outcome that half of the teams will be from Top14...
"What about 4 each + 4 to the best performing teams in last years competition not to have otherwise qualified?"
Because I don't think that having the possibility of a team finishing outside the quarter finals to qualify automatically will be a good idea. I'd rather have a team finishing 5th in their domestic league.
"Or what about a UEFA style system where places are allocated to leagues on the basis of their performance in previous years' competitions?"
You mean like the option I suggested like 3 times now? 😜 That will lead to have half of team from top14 and the end of the tournament.
"There's no point including Black Lion if they're just going to get whitewashed every year"
I genuinely disagree with that. I do think it's a decent team and are not doing too badly in the challenge cup.
"Maybe the best placed non-Israeli team and the Russian winners could play off every year for the spot?"
Based on the current geopolitics I won't bet on this happening anytime soon 😉
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