Hoping For A Full Recovery

source
The downside of playing a contact sport are the injuries and everyone who plays them knows the risks they are taking. I am not talking about football as that doesn't count as a proper contact sport but more like rugby, rugby league and American football.

A month or so ago I wrote about the Worcester player Michael Fatialofa who is big and strong and built like an outside toilet. He suffered a neck injury after being on the field for literally seconds. He was moved out of hospital today to move to a rehab center and I hope he can walk again at some point. It is not only him,but it effects everyone around him as he needs to remain positive.

source
The news I have read on his latest updates is he is now eating normal food and has got some feeling back. Any signs are good signs and honestly hope this guy can make a full recovery. I don't expect him to play again ,but at least gain his dignity and independence back

All it takes is a split second mixed with some very bad luck. I know having played rugby that it is something you dare not think about, but it is hard to ignore it. I have seen some horrific stuff and it always makes me thankful for having finished playing with only a handful of injuries.

Other players I played with believed that you had to be 100 percent committed to whatever you were doing and if you hit another player harder than he hits you then you should be fine. Sounds a bit cavemanny I know, but not a method I believed in mind you as technique and execution is everything.

You need to be fit and use your head not doing the bull in a china shop routine as those are the ones who normally end up hurt. we had one player who went in head first for everything and was a real zombie. He hardly ever got injured, but knowing what we know now about brain trauma that wasn't very smart.

Some of you may watch Australian Survivor and have noticed Matt Rodgers as a contestant. He played professional Rugby League and Union representing Australia in both of the codes. He was sidelined at a practice session when he was still playing as he was recovering from a broken nose. He decided to have a massage in the clubhouse and whilst setting up the table managed to crush his hand resulting in the loss of some fingers. Injuries can happen anywhere ,anytime and it is when you least expect it and I am all for making contact sports a safer place.