![Exclusive interview: How Tom Stephenson — English rugby's one-time rising star — fell out of love with the sport Exclusive interview: How Tom Stephenson — English rugby's one-time rising star — fell out of love with the sport](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2021/01/31/TELEMMGLPICT000151855730_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqOjwtMIBfBvsmIG0UzgZgYCCP7JA3MHBwyzMPaW50ztM.jpeg?imwidth=480)
Exclusive interview: How Tom Stephenson — English rugby's one-time rising star — fell out of love with the sport
![Rugby Union - European Champions Cup - Ospreys vs Northampton Saints - Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Britain - December 17, 2017 Northampton Saints' Tom Stephenson in action with Ospreys' Thomas Habberfield (L) and Rugby Union - European Champions Cup - Ospreys vs Northampton Saints - Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Britain - December 17, 2017 Northampton Saints' Tom Stephenson in action with Ospreys' Thomas Habberfield (L) and](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2EBEHMN/rugby-union-european-champions-cup-ospreys-vs-northampton-saints-liberty-stadium-swansea-britain-december-17-2017-northampton-saints-tom-stephenson-in-action-with-ospreys-thomas-habberfield-l-and-olly-cracknell-action-images-via-reutersandrew-boyers-2EBEHMN.jpg)
Rugby Union - European Champions Cup - Ospreys vs Northampton Saints - Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Britain - December 17, 2017 Northampton Saints' Tom Stephenson in action with Ospreys' Thomas Habberfield (L) and
![READING, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22ND Albert Tuisue of London Irish and Tom Stephenson of London Irish tackling Tom Ellis of Bath Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Bath READING, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22ND Albert Tuisue of London Irish and Tom Stephenson of London Irish tackling Tom Ellis of Bath Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Bath](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2AGY60R/reading-england-december-22nd-albert-tuisue-of-london-irish-and-tom-stephenson-of-london-irish-tackling-tom-ellis-of-bath-rugby-during-the-gallagher-premiership-match-between-london-irish-and-bath-rugby-at-the-madejski-stadium-reading-on-sunday-22nd-december-2019-credit-jacques-feeney-mi-news-photograph-may-only-be-used-for-newspaper-andor-magazine-editorial-purposes-license-required-for-commercial-use-credit-mi-news-sport-alamy-live-news-2AGY60R.jpg)
READING, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22ND Albert Tuisue of London Irish and Tom Stephenson of London Irish tackling Tom Ellis of Bath Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Bath
![Tom Stephenson expecting a physical tussle against Bayonne | 22nd November 2019 | News | London Irish Tom Stephenson expecting a physical tussle against Bayonne | 22nd November 2019 | News | London Irish](https://www.london-irish.com/storage/images-processed/w-1237_h-auto_m-fit_s-any__Tom%20Stephenson.jpg)