Wallaby Reece Hodge inspired by wheelchair rugby player

WALLABY Reece Hodge has had an inspirational training session with wheelchair rugby player Mark Leslie as he recovers from the broken ankle which forced him to miss the European tour.

Wheelchair rugby player Mark Leslie, trainer Chris Mott and Wallaby Reece Hodge at the J-Train Athletic Performance Gym at Brookvale.

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WALLABY and Manly Marlins star Reece Hodge has had an inspirational training session with wheelchair rugby player Mark Leslie as he recovers from the broken ankle which forced him to miss the European tour.

Leslie broke his neck after a freak accident playing rugby for Oakhill College and is paralysed from the chest down, with limited movement of his arms.

He worked out for 90 minutes with Hodge at the J-Train Athletic Performance gym in Brookvale.

Mark Leslie working out. at the J-Train gym,

J-Train owner James Brodie said: “When I heard about Mark’s story I was inspired that he was still in the gym with what appeared to be such a positive outlook and way of attacking life’s problems.”

He invited Leslie and his trainer Chris Mott for a training session with Hodge.

“I thought Reece was doing it tough but Mark’s doing it tougher,” Brodie said.

The initiative clearly had a big impact on Hodge.

“His tenacity and will to fight for every rep was extremely inspiring and put my comparatively minor injury into perspective,” Hodge said. “Just seeing the effort that goes in to getting in and out of his car, let alone training and trying to lift big weights and better himself every day was pretty amazing to see.”

Reece Hodge in action for rhe Wallabies against the All Blacks. Picture: Getty.

Leslie cheekily expressed his sympathy for Hodge’s injury. “Good luck with the scratch on your foot mate, she’ll be right,” he said.

Brodie summed up the day when he said: “I think the real inspiration of the day was Mark. And I’m glad he allowed us to train with him.

“He showed us what true courage was with his no-nonsense approach to life.”

The Wallabies have missed Hodge in the backline on a very challenging tour..

Hodge hopes to be running again in four to six weeks.