I knew it was going to happen. From the moment my adventure
in Australia was finalised, I was still in Milan, excited like I was never
before in my life, I was already fantasising about myself playing rugby with
David Pocock and giving him advices on how to steal a ball in a ruck. At the
time I was also already aware that sooner or later during my experience downunder
I would have to face a bad injury. I mean it’s Rugby and it’s part of the game,
I just thought it would be later rather than sooner!
It happened during my second trial game, after an entire month of conditioning and after a promising first trial game where I even managed to score a try. I was playing as outside centre, and we called the Bob move. In that move I am getting the ball off number 10, running in the opposite direction of where the ball is coming from. A usually effective play that can surprise the defence if well executed. This was not the case of course…
A combination of me running a great line to get smashed and my fly half, Jimmy, passing me the ball slightly late created a spectacular hospital pass effect for the spectators of the game. Even for those not familiar with this jargon, the name itself, hospital pass, gives you a good idea of the place you are most likely to end up immediately afterwards. You guessed right, Emergency Department.
I remember clearly the thoughts that went through my head in that split of a second that run from the start of the play to the impact: “here we go, good sprint, ok pass me the ball, give me the ball, give me the ball, give me the ball! give me the ball now! Give me the bloody ball! GIVE ME THE BALL! DON’T GIVE ME the ball! SHI…” massive tackle! One of those the crowd goes “oouuhhhh!” well placed on my right shoulder from the side. I managed somehow to position the ball for my team to keep playing, but when I got up I realised there was something not quite right with the shoulder. I immediately received assistance from one of the players who happens to be also a medicine student, Sam Medway, another great thing of UWA Rugby club. Sam is how we in Italy see the typical Australian guy, tall, good build, blond hair and blue eyes. He is the guy every girlfriend wants its boyfriend to look like and the guy every teenage boy’s mum wants him to be. First grade player, club’s captain with a strong charisma and a good leadership. And on top of it he is also a Doctor! I know what you’re thinking, there must be a catch… but I haven’t found any so far! Luckily there is one thing he can’t be possibly good at.. Writing.
Anyway, Sam checks my shoulder and after trying to put it back in place several times he recommends a visit at the hospital.
At the hospital the results are not so rosy, my collar bone ligaments were broken and the there was no alternative to operation if I wanted to go back and play again. Great, after three months in Australia and only 20 mins of playing I was going to have a major surgery and my Rugby season was already over, not a bad start ha?
Well, maybe just a bit unlucky. So I had to look at the positives: I would get an awesome ‘shark-attack-style’ scar to show my friends back home, this was a good chance to improve my English medical lingo, but most of all, the operation was just a few days before my birthday and someone was going to receive some good recreational drugs completely legal and for free!
It happened during my second trial game, after an entire month of conditioning and after a promising first trial game where I even managed to score a try. I was playing as outside centre, and we called the Bob move. In that move I am getting the ball off number 10, running in the opposite direction of where the ball is coming from. A usually effective play that can surprise the defence if well executed. This was not the case of course…
A combination of me running a great line to get smashed and my fly half, Jimmy, passing me the ball slightly late created a spectacular hospital pass effect for the spectators of the game. Even for those not familiar with this jargon, the name itself, hospital pass, gives you a good idea of the place you are most likely to end up immediately afterwards. You guessed right, Emergency Department.
I remember clearly the thoughts that went through my head in that split of a second that run from the start of the play to the impact: “here we go, good sprint, ok pass me the ball, give me the ball, give me the ball, give me the ball! give me the ball now! Give me the bloody ball! GIVE ME THE BALL! DON’T GIVE ME the ball! SHI…” massive tackle! One of those the crowd goes “oouuhhhh!” well placed on my right shoulder from the side. I managed somehow to position the ball for my team to keep playing, but when I got up I realised there was something not quite right with the shoulder. I immediately received assistance from one of the players who happens to be also a medicine student, Sam Medway, another great thing of UWA Rugby club. Sam is how we in Italy see the typical Australian guy, tall, good build, blond hair and blue eyes. He is the guy every girlfriend wants its boyfriend to look like and the guy every teenage boy’s mum wants him to be. First grade player, club’s captain with a strong charisma and a good leadership. And on top of it he is also a Doctor! I know what you’re thinking, there must be a catch… but I haven’t found any so far! Luckily there is one thing he can’t be possibly good at.. Writing.
Anyway, Sam checks my shoulder and after trying to put it back in place several times he recommends a visit at the hospital.
At the hospital the results are not so rosy, my collar bone ligaments were broken and the there was no alternative to operation if I wanted to go back and play again. Great, after three months in Australia and only 20 mins of playing I was going to have a major surgery and my Rugby season was already over, not a bad start ha?
Well, maybe just a bit unlucky. So I had to look at the positives: I would get an awesome ‘shark-attack-style’ scar to show my friends back home, this was a good chance to improve my English medical lingo, but most of all, the operation was just a few days before my birthday and someone was going to receive some good recreational drugs completely legal and for free!
Little joys of life.
Operation was successful, I just had to wait 6 months for a
complete recovery and 10 to the start of the next season to play again. I
couldn’t wait to be on that field again with an odd shaped ball in my hands…
Oh, Marko
ReplyDeleterun straight, don leave for the ball and target
the weak shoulder of your opponent.........
it's more difficult to get hurt.......
I am very happy that you play rugby again (until 42 years old like Dino and Diego in Australia or in Italy)
ahaha!Thanks Marcello to remind me to run straight, that was the problem at the time, not having you or Dario off the field to remind me that!
ReplyDelete