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'He didn't look like he has been away at all, let alone two years'

(Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Last Sunday in Manchester wasn’t just a celebration of an opening round Gallagher Premiership win for Sale, there was also great elation that Josh Beaumont had stepped off the bench and successfully played his first rugby match in 15 months

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The 30-year-old son of ex-England skipper Bill had last featured for the Sharks in June 2021, his left knee breaking down after a bit of bone chipped off to end his comeback following the recovery from his rupture of the patellar tendon on his right knee.

Thirteen matches were all he had managed to play since November 2019, but that adversity finally gave way last weekend to a second-half appearance as a sub for Matt Postlethwaite.

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He doesn’t feature this Saturday at Bath, as England’s Jonny Hill is set for his Sale debut, but the memory of his appearance versus Northampton will surely now drive Beaumont on following his considerable layoff.

“We mentioned it on the field in the little huddle afterwards and he got a big cheer from the boys,” said Sale boss Sanderson about how the Beaumont comeback was received by his teammates.

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“There was more elation for him coming back than the result, he is so highly regarded and well respected and much loved in this environment. It wasn’t just a win for Josh, it was a win for us all. I don’t know many people who could after two years out have the drive to get back. He managed the lineout, he was running lines. He didn’t look like he has been away at all, let alone two years. He has just gone up again in my estimation – and he was pretty high up anyway.”

It’s a comeback story that Sanderson hopes can inspire other players when they get injured and feel the road back is too long and too daunting. “We [rugby] are not the most dangerous sport, I have been told there are more dangerous sports out there which I won’t divulge because some sporting bodies will come after me, but injury is inevitable in any contact sport.

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“And so it is how you persevere through injury, through adversity, which injury is. It not only grows you as a person but it shows the mark of you. He is a great example. Unless it is a chronic injury at some point your bad luck is going to end, it has got to end and you see this in many people’s careers and this has now happened with Josh in his career.

“Fortunately it has not come at the end of his career, he has still got a year, two years maybe three to have the best years of his career and that is down to his own perseverance. For anyone else who is injured, what is that song by Journey, don’t stop believing!”

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R
RedWarrior 47 minutes ago
Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Foster was literally whinging about the TMO in the Ireland series in the presser AFTER the RWC final. NZs whinging about the final itself was apparently picked up by Voyager 2 which was near the asteroid belt. What about the whingefest and crybabies after O'Mahony's legendary sledge (during the match) on Sam Cane?


I often hear talk about NZ players being poisoned or similar nonsense during the 1995 final. NZ boast that they are 'superstars' and 'humble heroes' on their own website. You gave England the same treatment in 2002-2003, calling them arrogant just because they beat you. They told the rest of us then what you were like, we should have listened. I would give as much credence to a NZ supporter disliking us, as I would to Krusty the clown saying the same thing. Let's just say your judgement may not be the best.


Regarding 2016, as the referee had basically let NZ away with cheating their way to victory via filthy dangerous play and fouling he was hardly going to pull Sexton up when clearly trying to stop a grounding. NZ always leave the boot or arm in to hurt a try scorer but that seems to be invisible to you entitles lot.


BTW NZ have literally being whinging and crying about Ireland since Soldier field. You are just very bad losers. We will be delighted to be shot of you on Friday. I hope we do so with a win, so that you rethink your philosophy of mocking opponents and spectators you've just beaten.


After the match last Saturday the internet was full of Kiwi supporters basically abusing English folk. Where is your national honour? Where is your national integrity?

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