Rugby league great Andrew Johns collapsed in a coffee shop leading to revelations he is suffering from brain seizures.
The Sunday Telegraph, which reported the story, has raised the possibility of his condition being linked to head injuries suffered by footballers.
Johns, aged 44, collapsed on Friday while in Yamba,a surfing town on the northern coast of New South Wales.
A bystander said Johns banged his head on the floor and lay there for a few minutes semi-conscious. He was treated by paramedics and decided not to go to hospital.
"I've got some medical stuff going on," Johns said, when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.
"He said he was standing in line to get served and could feel it coming on," Matthew said.
"Next thing he can remember is waking up on the floor. He's had a few seizures in the last couple of years but his last one was probably 12 months ago.
"He seems to think it comes on at times when he's really tired."
Johns is a league immortal, who was a famously tough and brilliant halfback for the Newcastle Knights, NSW and Australia.
The Telegraph reported: "...head injuries sustained by contact sport players is one of the biggest issues in world sport.
"The NRL will introduce a brain bunker next year where experts will monitor players during games for signs of concussion.
"Johns was once renowned for his party boy image but has lived a healthy lifestyle in recent years."
