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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Graham reveals 2025 rehab amid mental health struggles
SEN • January 14th, 2026 9:42 am
James Graham has revealed he spent time in rehab last year in a brave discussion about mental health issues and alcohol abuse.
The former Dragons prop has always been open about difficult topics and has previously disclosed his struggles with anxiety and depression. But speaking on The Bye Round podcast, the 40-year-old said he had really struggled in 2025 and sought help.
“This last 12 months has been particularly hard,” he said. “There's probably a number of different reasons why that's happened.
“Not many people know about this. I made the decision to go to rehab. When I said I was away on holiday, I (spent) a week in a facility for mental health - which wasn't long enough.
“You're supposed to stay there for three. But due to my job, I couldn't disappear for three weeks.
“Disappearing for one week was difficult enough.
“I guess maybe one of the main reasons why I didn't (stay) was because people would know. But why would I care if people know or not.
"I'm still wrestling with that. Even now."
In a bid to normalise men talking about their struggles, Graham said it was a comment from a childhood friend that “hit him between the eyes” and made him consider his options.
“My best mate from school, we talk every day," he said.
“When I was away on the (Ashes) tour recently, and having a decent drinking session, I go off my phone. The next time we spoke, he said something that hit me between the eyes.
“He said: ‘Lad, I actually genuinely worry you've done something when I don't hear from you’.”
