Wulf ready to complete comeback
When Rudi Wulf steps out for his All Blacks debut against England on Saturday he will have completed a remarkable comeback from a potentially career-ending injury.
When Rudi Wulf steps out for his All Blacks debut against England on Saturday he will have completed a remarkable comeback from a potentially career-ending injury.
Whilst on duty with New Zealand U21 Wulf almost ended his fledgling rugby career, and in the strangest circumstances. Wulf cracked his head on the bottom of a swimming pool having dived into the shallow end, putting an end to his U21 World Cup.
The following day he was examined and it was discovered he had suffered fractures to several vertebrae in his neck, casting doubt over his future in rugby.
Wulf was sent home from the World Cup in a protective 'halo' neck brace and told to rest and avoid any activity that would place a strain on his neck. The brace remained on for three months, giving Wulf plenty of time to focus on a comeback that is now all but complete.
He will make his All Blacks debut this Saturday in the second Test against England at 24 years of age, and Wulf is glad the long journey back is finally complete.
“It depended on how well the fractures healed up so I was just praying and hoping I would be able to get back on the field because I was really missing when I was stuck on the chair watching TV and couldn't be part of it,” Wulf told Sportal.
“I was quite frustrated, lying on the lazy boy for three months and couldn't take the halo off even when it got itchy.
“But the support from my family and fiancée and church really got me through and got my hopes up that I would return back on the field.”
Amazingly for such a serious injury, he was back playing for North Harbour club side Marist just eleven months later.
“It was quite nerve-wracking in my first club game back for Marist and I wasn't too sure whether to go into rucks, but I got a couple of big knocks in the first game and that got my confidence back up there,” he added.
Not only was Wulf a little nervous, but so was his mother – hardly surprising. She wasn't so keen on her son returning to the game that could have paralysed him.
But he came through his first game back without further alarm and made a return to North Harbour and the Blues, then finally his dream call-up to the All Blacks this week when swapping places with domestic and Super 14 team-mate Anthony Tuitavake.
“It's taken a while to kick in,” Wulf said.
“It's been an amazing couple of weeks being part of the team and all the boys make you really welcome.
There are no lingering effects of the injury, no metal plates remain in his neck and even the halo is long gone – although Wulf was keen to keep it as a souvenir.
As for his Olympic diving career, that has also been put on the backburner.
“I make sure I know the depth first – but it's mainly feet first now.”