May 19, 2025

268: From Wembley to Wake-Up Calls: Stevie Ward on Concussion, Courage & Life Beyond the Game

45 minutes

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves sits down with former Leeds Rhinos captain Stevie Ward, a man who went from teenage prodigy to Grand Final winner, only to have his career cut short by concussion at just 27.

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Stevie opens up about:

What it’s really like debuting alongside your childhood heroes

The fear and thrill of running out at Wembley at 18

The brutal highs and lows of elite performance, injury, and recovery

How fear, when embraced, can unlock peak performance

The emotional toll of early retirement and how he's rebuilding his identity beyond sport

But this isn’t just a story of sport. It’s about leadership, mental health, emotional intelligence, and what it means to be truly vulnerable, in a dressing room, a boardroom, or everyday life.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, sports scientist, manager or just someone navigating life’s transitions, Stevie’s story is packed with insight and inspiration and how to lead with authenticity.

About Stevie Ward

Stevie is a former professional rugby player and part of the golden generation at the Leeds Rhinos, one of the most successful teams in Super League history. Stevie became the youngest grand final winner ever, going on to win two more Grand Finals and 2 Challenge Cups, and was named captain at just 26.

Amongst the highs, Stevie endured ten operations and several mental health struggles. This adversity inspired Stevie to launch Mantality in 2016 to promote mental health for men through counselling, life-coaching services, and a stigma-breaking podcast.

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