Hill sets Monday date for comeback... |
|
Hill is also expected to be joined by Thomas Castaignede in the team for the game at Old Albanians RFC, kick off 7.30pm. Castaignede has been limited to just a cameo appearance as a replacement against Newcastle Falcons this season because of a calf injury. For flanker Hill, it marks the end of a 16-month spell out of the game following the knee reconstruction surgery he required after being injured in the opening test match of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand last year. Of course, Hill had only just returned from similar surgery that ruled him out for much of the 2004/05 season in a two year-spell that has seen him make just 12 appearances for the Men In Black. It’s hard to imagine what Hill has been through in the past year, but when you listen to him talk about the eight operations he’s endured along with the hours spent on his rehabilitation, you begin to get a taste of what life has been like for him and his family. “It’s a big step for me to get out on the pitch once again,” he confessed. “When Andy Farrell played his first game last month, I sent him a text telling him to just enjoy being back on the pitch again. Now I’ll have to make sure I’ll follow that advice. As much as I’d like to come out of it saying I’ve played fantastically, I also realise it’s about taking little steps and going slowly. I can’t think beyond Monday night.” But while his recovery from the initial injury was never in doubt, his return a second time around hasn’t been as straightforward. After receiving a graft from his hamstring to repair the original ACL injury, the second time around the ligament from a recently deceased corpse was used. But within days of the operation last July, Hill was back in hospital with a mystery illness that saw him laid so low that a short walk to the shops would wipe him out for the rest of the day. To this day, despite numerous tests, the cause of the problem is still unknown. And it’s something that he talks about in detail in his book, Richard Hill: The Autobiography, which is published next week – detailing the highs and lows of his career and revealing portraits of his team mates and opponents and of course, that day in November 2003 that saw him lift the World Cup with England. “When we started doing the book about 18 months ago, I wasn’t in my mind to go so in-depth about the injuries but they have played such a large part of my life in the past two years,” added Hill. “Going through the whole process, it has certainly made me appreciate everything that I’ve achieved and been part of. It’s been good to look back and relive some of the experiences I’ve been through, both good and bad, and I hope people find it a good read.” But while he prepares for his first outing in over a year at Old Albanians on Monday night, he can’t but help to think back to May this year when he underwent what could be described as a make of break operation. He explained: “I’d met with my specialist a few days before that. Basically, he told me that I might have to consider retirement from the game. It was a very depressing time. I woke up two days before the operation thinking this could be it – the end of me playing rugby. I think only the people really closest to me realised what was happening and just how depressed and low I was feeling. “During the operation, which was carried out by Fares Hadad, anything that was regarded as a foreign body in my knee was removed and thankfully it went well. It was only after that last operation in May that I discovered light at the end of a tunnel. It gave me renewed hope and it’s the most positive bit of news that I could have had. “Images, scans and X-rays will only give you so much insight. But to have a surgeon of his experience and knowledge of my knee to go in and have a look around and say that it’s not a knee that needs to retire was a massive boost. “After that, we didn’t set a timetable of when I would return or even set too many targets. It was just a case of the knee would be right when it was right. I’m still not really setting too many targets. I’m looking forward to playing on Monday and then we’ll take it from there. It will be a case of taking things slowly.” Richard’s next step will be confirmed on Monday when the team is announced and then a few hour later at Old Albanians when the game against Saints kicks off at 7.30pm. (Entrance to the game is £5) Richard Hill: The Autobiography is published on November 2 (Orion, £18.99) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|