Watching the Gloucester v Saracens match tonight, I was looking forward to a contest between these two clubs and as a new Wasps fan, was supporting Gloucester. Aside from the match commentary (I mean, seriously, what the hell was Billy Twelvetrees thinking – or not)… I want to give a different perspective.
Ben Morgan’s and Nick Woods’ injuries look to be very serious. When a forward has to have oxygen on the pitch, you know he’s hurting. For Gloucester to have a second serious injury, as serious as Nick Woods’ is unbelievable. You wouldn’t usually have injuries like this in one Premiership Rugby weekend, never mind in one match, to one team.
Over the last year, I have suffered with terrible stress every time my son has taken to the pitch, after one of his team mates suffered a horrific broken leg at the beginning of last season, I have literally been haunted by it. My shoulders are level with my ears, I pace up and down the touchline, I don’t talk to people.
I wonder how Ben and Nick’s families deal with it. After all, I’m only watching my son play club and college rugby, what’s it like for families supporting players at a much higher level?
Friday before Christmas, my son got injured. The referee called the first aider onto the pitch immediately, so I knew it was bad (I didn’t run onto the pitch, which is a good thing apparently) We went to A&E, were seen fairly quickly, told it was ligaments and to rest.
On Monday this week (5th January), I listened to a voicemail that had been left on 29th December, telling me that the diagnosis my son had been given on 19th December was incorrect and he had actually fractured his foot. We visited the local Fracture Clinic the next day, to be told that yes, there was a fracture and now my son is wearing an air cast boot.
Given that my son is in the local academy, I know that he will be well looked after. For example, he won’t be allowed to train, never mind play, until the Academy Physio deems him to be fit enough. His academy coach speaks to his club coach regularly, so they will discuss my son’s progress and ensure he doesn’t play again until he’s truly ready.
I had prepared myself for stroppiness and misery, but he seems to be OK. Today, he attended a Pilates class before heading into the gym for an upper body weights session. In his words “14 weeks to the Portugal tour mum, I’m going to be fit and ready.”
The stress I had put myself through before this injury was completely over the top, unnecessary and debilitating actually. I can imagine that Ben Morgan’s and Nick Woods’ mums have both been through what I have felt and would probably tell me to darn well pull myself together!
So, for me, the worst has happened. Son has a fracture, he will be well looked after by Coventry Academy and I need to relax. He will be looked after.
But, back to my point, one of the absolutely wonderful things about rugby is that everyone supports injured players. Even the most bitterest of rival teams will be concerned about injured players, as will their fans. This is why I know that I am supporting the best sport.
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