Two Blues rugby colt Douglas Roache firing after two hip replacements
Six years ago this rugby young gun was bed-bound with both legs in a cast and being told he would never play contact sport. He didn’t listen.
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When Douglas Roach was 12 he had both hips replaced in a massive operation which left him in a wheelchair, then crutches and finally saw him have to learn how to walk again.
Now 18, the young hooker is planning a career as a professional rugby player.
Roache recently played in the Gen Blue’s under 18 side and has also signed on for the Two Blues Colts in 2021.
His objective is to impress rugby selectors enough to eventually be picked up by a Super Rugby club.
“I have a big passion for rugby,” said the 18-year-old, whose father coaches at the club and older brother Dietrich is with the Aussie Sevens program ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’ve been with Two Blues since I was 15 when I started playing.
“My goal is to make the first grade team and get my name out there and myself into the system so people get to know who I am.
“I want to play Super Rugby in the future.”
Roache, who is with the Two Blues Colts team who stunned with their pre-game dressing room singing this season, said he is now fully recovered from the surgery to his hips six years ago.
“It started when I was 11 and started limping,” he said.
“It got it noticeably worse. We thought it was chiropractic but he send us to a doctor and they said you need to get surgery right away.
“My left leg was a lot shorter,
“I ended up with two casts on both my legs so it was hard to move.
“I was in a wheelchair at first then crutches. It took a year to complete heal and I started to be more mobile.
“They said I wasn’t able to play any type of contact sport but I’m fine now. I love the contact.”
Roache, identified as a talent by the Gen Blues junior program, is now preparing for pre-season with his Western Sydney Two Blues club.
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Originally published as Two Blues rugby colt Douglas Roache firing after two hip replacements
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