‘Injuries made me consider my future’ – Ben Te’o

Editor

Worcester Warriors and England centre Ben Te’o has revealed that he contemplated his future in the game due to his numerous injury setbacks.

Earlier this year, Te’o missed England’s tour of South Africa after sustaining a thigh injury and this followed a serious ankle problem which kept him on the sidelines during the latter part of last year.

The former Rugby League star hopes to return to action during the new season’s “earlier part”.

“You have a couple of injuries back to back and you start to wonder ‘is this worth it?'” Te’o told the BBC.

“A lot of players would feel the same. I’ve come back from some tough injuries, and once you’re back it’s brilliant, but the time off is tough.

“When I was getting ready for surgery for my quad, I was laying in the bed with the gown on, about to go under [the knife] again, and I was thinking ‘I can’t believe I am going under again for another op’ – more crutches and all that.

“But sometimes that’s the way it goes with injuries. You can have a couple of good years, and then sometimes it can go back to back to back and you just can’t get away from it.

“I’m praying and hoping I can get fit and play, and (an injury) doesn’t come back. (It’s been) frustrating.”

The 31-year-old said he would take his time before making his comeback after making the mistake of rushing his return “plenty of times” previously in his career.

“That’s sometimes part and parcel with this game,” said Te’o.

“In both codes I’ve played there are lots of times where you get pressured into coming back early.

“Sometimes you can play yourself into match fitness, but if you get hurt again you regret doing it. But fingers crossed that doesn’t happen. [The aim is to] get back fit, stay back and contribute.”

Te’o impressed for the British and Irish Lions during their tour of New Zealand last year but injured his ankle while on duty for Worcester in a European Challenge Cup match against Brive last October.

“When you come here as a marquee player and you are not playing, people ask questions,” he said.

“But I snapped my ankle out here playing for Worcester, I ruptured all the ligaments in it. I have a plate, I have screws in it, so it wasn’t like I was on the beach chilling out.

“I would love to get out here and play week in, week out. But that’s just not real anymore, not in this day and age.

“I would love to get back fit and play every game for Worcester this season. Is that realistic? I don’t know. Maybe, we will see.”