Time passing slowly for hurt Hall

JOHN HAWKINS/Southland Times

INJURY TIME: Southland Stags' David Hall charges through Bay of Plenty's Luke Braid in November 2009.

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October 22, 2009 was the day Southland won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 50 years by beating Canterbury in Christchurch.

It is a date that has taken top priority in the Southland rugby history books. Eleven months has passed since that famous day in Southland sport but for David Hall it has felt like eight years.

That historic victory in Christchurch was the last time he stepped on to the field to play rugby.

In the 23rd minute of that game Hall went down with a knee injury and he was forced out of the Shield challenge.

The injury required surgery and it has been rehabilitation mode since for Hall as the 30-year-old has faced the biggest battle of his career in his attempt to get back on the rugby paddock.

Today Hall will do just that, albeit through tentative steps.

The Ranfurly Shield-winning forward will lineup for the Southland development team when they take on Otago Colts in Balclutha this afternoon.

"People told me the time will fly by, but I can tell you that hasn't been the case, it's felt like an eternity," Hall said describing his stint on the sidelines.

Hall hopes to play 40 to 60 minutes today and was confident the knee would get through the hit out fine. "Physically I think I'm fine, it's just the mental side of it that I'm going to have to get over in the first couple of weeks back playing I suppose. Just knowing myself that my knee is right.

"The lungs will probably be burning a bit too, you can do all the running you like but it is different in the heat of the battle when you have to get yourself up off the ground and make a tackle."

The former Highlanders hooker hasn't set any clear goals, saying he firstly wants to get through a couple of games for the development team before he starts thinking about a potential comeback for the Stags.

"I'm only going to make myself available (for the Stags) if I know I'm 100 per cent right," he said.

"If I get through a couple of games for the development and feel fine I'll talk to Goof (David Henderson) about making myself available. That doesn't mean if I make myself available I'm going to be selected though, the guys are going pretty good at the moment."

While the 11 month break from playing has been frustrating for Hall he did get the chance to experience the flip side of rugby – coaching.

Hall coached Wright's Bush in the Southland division two club competition this season which he said was refreshing.

"It's good to get back to the grassroots and be with a good bunch a guys who are not worried about how much they are getting paid. They play rugby for the enjoyment and to have a beer after the game, the reason 99 per cent of people play rugby," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News