Stormers' centre Ruhan Nel is buzzing with excitement as he gears up for his comeback in the high-stakes Vodacom URC showdown against the Bulls at Loftus this Saturday. After a prolonged recovery from a calf injury, Nel not only returns to the starting lineup but also resumes his role as team captain.
"It feels very good," Nel admitted on Friday. "It's been a frustrating couple of months, but it's great to be back with the team. To come back in a game like this, you couldn’t ask for better. I’m really excited." Despite the thrill, his journey back to the field was no walk in the park. Originally sidelined by a calf tear in mid-December, which was supposed to be a brief hiatus, complications arose. "The initial plan after the calf tear was only a couple of weeks," he explained. "But during the captain’s run before the Leicester Tigers game [in mid-January] it didn’t react well and that set me back again."
During his recovery, Nel faced further setbacks. "During the reconditioning block the calf healed up, but then my right achilles started giving problems. It’s what they call a paratenon injury, where you build up inflammation around the tendon." He highlighted the delicate balance of recovery, noting, "The tricky part is that to recover you need to deload, but to stay fit you have to load. That’s where the frustration came in because you feel good, but as soon as you get onto the field you can’t run."
Watching the Stormers falter in recent games was particularly hard for Nel.
"Any injured player feels like he could add something to the team,"
he said. "When you’re not part of the match 23 you sit at home wishing you could help. We all see the hours of work that go into preparation during the week, so when the results don’t come, it’s tough not being able to contribute."
Now fully integrated back into the team, Nel is clear about his approach to the game. "I’ve never been a guy who tries to do too much," he remarked. "A good team is when everyone understands their role. I know what my strengths are and if I stick to those, it can’t go wrong." Taking on the captaincy once more, he feels prepared and supported.
"It’s always a massive honour and privilege to captain the Stormers,"
Nel stated. "But we’ve got a strong leadership group. There are guys like Damian Willemse, JD Schickerling and others who have all led before. It’s not a one-man show. It’s a group effort, and I’m really excited to be back and hopefully do a good job for the team."
As the Stormers brace for a fierce encounter, the return of their seasoned centre and leader is a welcome boost for the team and its followers alike.
2,100 posts
Stormers' centre Ruhan Nel is buzzing with excitement as he gears up for his comeback in the high-stakes Vodacom URC showdown against the Bulls at Loftus this Saturday. After a prolonged recovery from a calf injury, Nel not only returns to the starting lineup but also resumes his role as team captain.
"It feels very good," Nel admitted on Friday. "It's been a frustrating couple of months, but it's great to be back with the team. To come back in a game like this, you couldn’t ask for better. I’m really excited." Despite the thrill, his journey back to the field was no walk in the park. Originally sidelined by a calf tear in mid-December, which was supposed to be a brief hiatus, complications arose. "The initial plan after the calf tear was only a couple of weeks," he explained. "But during the captain’s run before the Leicester Tigers game [in mid-January] it didn’t react well and that set me back again."
During his recovery, Nel faced further setbacks. "During the reconditioning block the calf healed up, but then my right achilles started giving problems. It’s what they call a paratenon injury, where you build up inflammation around the tendon." He highlighted the delicate balance of recovery, noting, "The tricky part is that to recover you need to deload, but to stay fit you have to load. That’s where the frustration came in because you feel good, but as soon as you get onto the field you can’t run."
Watching the Stormers falter in recent games was particularly hard for Nel.
"Any injured player feels like he could add something to the team,"
he said. "When you’re not part of the match 23 you sit at home wishing you could help. We all see the hours of work that go into preparation during the week, so when the results don’t come, it’s tough not being able to contribute."Now fully integrated back into the team, Nel is clear about his approach to the game. "I’ve never been a guy who tries to do too much," he remarked. "A good team is when everyone understands their role. I know what my strengths are and if I stick to those, it can’t go wrong." Taking on the captaincy once more, he feels prepared and supported.
"It’s always a massive honour and privilege to captain the Stormers,"
Nel stated. "But we’ve got a strong leadership group. There are guys like Damian Willemse, JD Schickerling and others who have all led before. It’s not a one-man show. It’s a group effort, and I’m really excited to be back and hopefully do a good job for the team."As the Stormers brace for a fierce encounter, the return of their seasoned centre and leader is a welcome boost for the team and its followers alike.