Our country is currently actually going crazy about rugby, to the point that ANY news about ANY rugby player (past or present) is generally deemed to be far more important than trivial things like another credit rating downgrade, or even Liz Hurley and Shane Warne’s engagement.

So it was probably bad timing that one of our all time rugby superstars wound up in hospital this week, after his body started to reject the kidney transplant he received several years ago. Every news outlet was met with a staunch wall of silence, leaving all of those who had come to believe they had a right to news about his health (people who he probably doesn’t even know exist), feeling baffled and anxious.

So when news broke that he’d actually SOLD his story to a local women’s mag, it was met with outrage. WHO was HE to sell HIS story, when WE were the ones who’d had his back all these years (well, you know, apart from the time he received the kidney, and we all raged that he was to then wrap himself in cotton wool, rather than continue with his plan to play rugby… Or, um, those times we ridiculed him for notching up several marriages in quick succession…).

I am (quite clearly) someone who holds the belief that everyone owns their own story. Ive known enough people who’ve had enough media coverage to know that most of the time the details get somewhat changed in the telling. I also know that despite obvious fame and fortune, people make mistakes. When facing a serious medical battle, the prospect of earning a bit of cash to support your family may well mean more to you than ensuring the 4 million people who’ve idolized you to varying degrees over the years get immediate updates on your health.

But Ive had some pretty interesting conversations recently with people who believe the opposite. That by relying on the public’s adoration to build a career, you then owe them at least the knowledge that you are not on your deathbed when things go wrong.

I don’t know. But this question seems to get raised a lot these days, from phone hacking scandals to Paparazzi harassment, and maybe, somewhat our ability to know everything about everyone via our rather naive use of social media.

While I feel for Jonah and his family, in the same way I do whenever I hear of another’s misfortune, I think there’s enough people who I know and love who have enough of their own issues for me to spend my time focusing on them.