James slips into old role
JAMES Slipper has been rushed into a Friday night comeback against the Wallabies where the team environment will aid his ongoing rehabilitation from his cocaine-tainted fall.
Born and raised on the Gold Coast, the 86-Test Reds prop has been isolated from rugby for most of the 11 weeks since shock revelations of two positive out-of-competition tests.
Slipper’s health resurgence from a dark place, after admitting he had depression for a year, is welcomed by all who know the popular forward.
Slipper, 29, has trained solo for weeks to be in some shape for this call-up to the Australian Super Selection XV to play the Wallabies in the trial at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval.
He finished his two-month ban on July 15 and will today be included in the Queensland Country NRC squad.