This was published 8 years ago
Parramatta Eels captain Kieran Foran overdosed on prescription drugs after struggling with personal issues
By Andrew Webster
Parramatta captain Kieran Foran was rushed to hospital in an ambulance earlier this week after overdosing on prescription medication.
Fairfax Media can also reveal the Eels have been working closely with the NRL's welfare department for some time as Foran grapples with a range of personal issues that culminated on Thursday with the player being granted indefinite leave.
It is understood Foran has been living with his sister, Natalie, in Glebe since the long-standing relationship with the mother of his two children, Rebecca Pope, ended.
He trained with the Eels earlier in the week ahead of tonight's match against the Bulldogs, but was rushed to St Vincent's hospital in Darlinghurst after suffering an adverse reaction to medication he has been taking.
Kieran Foran was rushed to St Vincent's hospital in Darlinghurst.Credit: Getty Images
The club is still investigating exactly what has been taken, but several sources say it is not a similar situation to that of Souths pair Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray, who were placed into an induced coma last year after overdosing on a cocktail of painkillers.
At this stage, the NRL is only concerned about Foran's well-being.
"All the efforts at present are directed at ensuring Kieran's return to full health," an NRL spokesman said. "Any other matters will be dealt with at a later date."
Eels chief executive John Boulous said they would give Foran all the support he needs, but refused to divulge any reasons why the former Manly five-eighth was given time off, or for his hospitalisation.
Asked if drugs were involved, Boulous said: "I can't go into the details and I won't go into details of anything there. All we know is his wellbeing is first and foremost our major priority."
Boulous said Foran had been struggling with personal issues "for a while", and that some teammates were aware of his plight. No timeframe for Foran's return has been discussed.
"Moving forward, Kieran will take as much time as he wants and needs to get himself right. We've put no end date on that."
The rugby league world was rocked on Thursday night when news broke that Foran – the Eels' most important signing since Peter Sterling – had been sidelined indefinitely.
At the heart of his problems is the breakdown of his relationship and the recent hospitalisation of one of his children because of illness.
He is also said to be feeling the strain of a legal dispute with former club Manly over a $140,000 third-party agreement he claims has not been honoured.
Then there's the looming storm over Parramatta's salary cap issues, with the NRL expected to next week to deduct enough competition points that will effectively end their season. The Eels are fifth on the ladder.
Outwardly, Foran has been a tower of strength while being thrown question after question about the impending doom facing the club of which he is now captain.
But those close to him say he has been struggling to cop it. At the heart of it is his messy split with Pope. Former teammates describe their relationship as "volatile".
Predictably, the rumour mill has cranked up and started spitting out all manner of reasons for Foran's breakdown.
Jackie O from "The Kyle and Jackie O Show" on KIIS FM went so far to question the paternity of Foran's baby son.
Channel Nine reporter and Fairfax columnist Danny Weidler tweeted: "The suggestion from Jackie O on @kiis1065 that Kieran Foran's baby boy is not his is false and offensive to all concerned".
Foran is one of the game's good guys.
Last year, he could easily have walked away from his $4.8 million deal at Parramatta from this season after the terms of the contract were changed at the 11th hour.
"I don't know how it has come to this, I entered into an agreement three months ago in good faith and I have never wavered," Foran said at the time. "I have shown the utmost respect to Parramatta and I'm not 100 per cent sure this has been shown to me."
Instead, he honoured his agreement to coach Brad Arthur, with whom he shares a close bond, and left Manly.
There remains some conjecture about how long Foran will be missing for the Eels, but reports have emerged he could be back within a month.
- with AAP