THE MOST PAIN I’VE EVER KNOWN
Sam Simmonds on the injury that wrecked his season
SAM SIMMONDS sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
Eight months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Worcester, the England back-rower is back.
Simmonds has seen that left leg — on which he now bears a thin purple scar — wither while bedridden for two weeks. He has had to learn to run again and experienced the most pain he has ever felt in his 24 years.
But now faster, stronger, more physically and mentally robust the Exeter Chief is out of the shadows and on the bench for his side today against Northampton.
Back in September, though, he was in a dark place.
It had all been sunshine and rainbows before then. Going from a bench-warmer at the Cornish Pirates to a Premiership champion Chief in 2017, Simmonds won a first England cap that November against Argentina.
The No 8 then put together a remarkable first full league season,
scoring 12 tries as Exeter made the final again. The Teignmouth lad with the fiery hair had lit up the league.
An unused tourist with England in South Africa last June, he flew back into the Premiership having had little time to prepare. Five tries in four matches to start the season. Then, snap.
On September 29 at Sandy Park he felt excruciating pain through his knee. Then it dulled.
‘It hurt on the pitch, but sitting on the bench watching the rest of the game I didn’t think it was that bad,’ he explains.
‘I got home, spoke to my family and girlfriend and said “hopefully it’s just a tweak”.’ The physios wanted me to go for a scan and said “it could be your ACL”.
‘I was thinking it probably isn’t. Then the results came back. I was quite upset and emotional.
‘It dawned that I would have to work so hard to get to where I want to be.’ Boy, he has. In the week leading up to his operation, Simmonds worked to ‘ fire’ his quadriceps muscles — in the gym lifting light weights — to prepare for surgery.
For months after it he would come into the club every day — driven in by his father David — to work on strengthening his knee.
David would sit outside until Sam had finished squatting up to 28st 4lbs (180kg) — almost double his body weight. Then, back home in Teignmouth with mum Nicola and sister Leah he would just lie in bed, his family dressing his wounds and adjusting his brace. Meanwhile, younger brother Joe was doing what Sam was desperate to — starring for Exeter as they surged up the table.
‘Those first three weeks were definitely the most pain I’ve ever been in,’ says Simmonds. ‘All my calf muscles went, the quad too. You could see them going — it looked like a completely different leg to my right. Your legs forget how to run. Those early days were hard. I’m lucky to have family around — if you’re doing that stuff on your own you’re struggling.’
With no rugby to play Simmonds engrossed himself in two hobbies: following his football side Liverpool and making a cider with his team-mates. Because, of course, if you are an Exeter Chief with time on your hands, you make cider.
Suitably called ‘Rib Tickler’ the golden nectar is already sold in the city’s bars for charity. ‘We’ve had good feedback so far,’ he said.
‘A few boys have moaned that they’ve had headaches after drinking it! It’s only five per cent, so not too bad! It’s not cloudy... it pretty much tastes like apple juice, so it’s a bit dangerous. I love it.’
Now, at last, Simmonds is ready. Recently he hit a personal best top-speed of 21mph in training — making him just 2mph slower than England’s quickest player Jonny May.
‘He looks quicker, stronger, fitter and bigger than he ever has done before,’ says Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter. ‘All the weapons are there for him to use, now he has to unleash it with some confidence.’
Known for his footwork and speed, Simmonds is determined to sign off his toughest year in style.
‘I would be lying if I said the World Cup wasn’t an aim,’ says the back-rower with seven caps. ‘I want to keep pushing myself. Everything is going my way now, and there’s nothing to worry about.
‘If we do get to the final and end up winning it I won’t look back at being injured, that’s all that will matter to me. Hopefully we get there and Liverpool win the Champions League, then June 1 could be a big day!’
‘All my muscles went and my legs forgot how to run’