England flanker Tom Curry has told girlfriend Lila he “curled up in a ball” and “just cried” before undergoing hip surgery last season after being warned it could end his playing career.
The 26-year-old underwent surgery in February after being diagnosed with femoral head impingement syndrome, a condition in which the ball of the hip joint is not completely round.
Curry described the hip injury as “like being in a car crash” and said it left him unable to run.
“It was horrible,” he recalled of the moment he was told his career might be in jeopardy. “I was lucky Lila was there, but I literally cried. I was curled up in a ball. I couldn’t understand it. It was a surreal moment.
“I think (not being able to run) was the hardest obstacle to overcome. I just couldn’t run, and it felt the same.
“It was a really tough time but since arriving at Loughborough I’ve worked with some really special people. Their eye for detail is amazing and I’ve really learnt how to run again.”
Curry revealed his initial biggest worry was whether the Sale Sharks backrower could be used as a rugby player, but added he felt a “huge relief” when the surgeon told him it would “make him a better rugby player”.
Following a successful rehabilitation, Curry returned ahead of schedule in June to feature in Sale Sharks’ Premiership semi-final defeat to Bath.
Having made just one appearance as a substitute since the World Cup third-place play-off against Argentina in October, it was surprising that Steve Borthwick included Curry in his summer squad.
He came off the bench three times throughout England’s summer Test campaign, including a win over Japan and two narrow defeats to New Zealand.
“It meant everything,” the Sale flanker said. “To have that confidence from Steve and the coaches, it was huge.
“I missed a bit of the World Cup, I played a bit, I missed the Six Nations. I just want to repay him by getting myself fit, staying fit and playing as well as I can.”
With 53 caps for his country, Curry is one of the most experienced players in Borthwick’s squad and looks set to enter his prime.
He won’t change his all-action style of play, and says his successful rehabilitation process has helped him mature as a person.
“It didn’t happen because of contact (on the pitch). It happened because I was running too much,” he added.
“It was a huge growth experience for me and I think it helped me a lot in maturing.
“You have to let go of a lot of your ego. You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to do this.’ You have to figure out what’s going to make you better, and then you’ll be a lot smarter. I think that’s made me a lot more mature.”
