I was amazed to read in Jonny Wilkinson’s autobiography that as early as doing the lap of honour, not even World Champion for a few hours yet, he was thinking – well, what now?
He had just achieved a goal he had been chasing for 15 years, a goal that would prove extremely hard for English men’s teams and almost immediately it left him in a slump.
I’d say the same thing happened when he retired too.
I reckon it will happen to everyone at least five times in their lives.
The goal vacuum can be a scary place.
It can lead to depression if you stay in there long enough.
I think the best at dealing with it know how to reinvent themselves and keep that muscle in good shape.
Thomas Duggan 