Hall sees upside in nine-month break

JOHN HAWKINS/Southland Times

STEP IN TIME: Southland's David Hall, with Tony Koonwaiyou in support, sidesteps Taranaki's Andrew Hore.

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Injured Stags hooker David Hall knows watching his mates go about their rugby business during the next six months or so is going to be tough.

However, the 29-year-old is making every attempt to keep his chin up and is actually viewing the enforced nine- month break from rugby as a possible blessing in disguise.

Hall injured his knee in in the 23rd minute of Southland's historic Ranfurly Shield victory over Canterbury last month.

Last Friday he found out the full extent of the injury and it wasn't flash.

"I basically have torn everything in my knee to shreds," he told The Southland Times.

Hall will undergo a full knee reconstruction on December 2, and soon after that will head back for more surgery to fix an ongoing shoulder problem. "I've failed my warrant (of fitness) this year, haven't I," the hard-case Southland hooker said.

Hall is expected to be out of rugby for nine months as he targets the Stags national provincial championship preseason games as a possible time for a comeback to the playing field. The injury has meant the 2009 Highlanders first-choice hooker was missing from the Super 14 squads named on Wednesday.

Hall said he was probably going to feel a bit of envy when he watched the Highlanders take part in next year's Super 14.

But he believes the enforced break will have its benefits.

"I've been playing rugby year after year without a break since I was probably 25. You are always eager to get out there and play but you get a bit used to what you are doing I suppose. This break will be a good chance to build up that passion again and it will also be a reality check that you can't play rugby for ever."

He is even contemplating having another dabble at his other sporting love, cricket, during his nine month rehabilitation time.

Hall can head into his nine- month rehabilitation with a smile on his facing knowing he was part of a Southland team that won the Ranfurly Shield.

He described the historic event as one that evoked mixed emotions because he had to deal with a serious knee injury and also celebrate one of Southland rugby's greatest days.

Hall said watching the dying moments of the Ranfurly Shield was difficult but it was even more difficult when the final whistle went and the celebrations started.

"I think I dropped a crutch and just tried to keep going and (manager) Leicester (Rutledge) grabbed me under the wing to help get me out there."

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