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A different sort of award, but one that should be held in the highest esteem among others, is our Spirit of Rugby Award. The culture of rugby is one of family, inclusivity, and commitment. It takes a brave soul to run onto the field and front up against 15 other players in a battle of attrition, and it also requires a love of the game to want to return after suffering from inevitable injury or other hardships. While there are certainly many more stories of beating the odds worthy of admiration, we felt those below best encapsulated the spirit of the sport and deserved special recognition.
HONOURABLE MENTION
In 2011 Pumas prop Juan Figallo was on top of the world, named in most World Cup Dream Teams and considered one of the very best tightheads on the planet. Then disaster struck in 2013. A serious neck injury suffered against the All Blacks in September knocked him out of the entire domestic season, and to make matters worse French medical officials refused to clear him for a return in 2014. Luckily Saracens were prepared to take a risk and he made it through the 2014-15 season relatively unscathed. A knee injury knocked ‘Chipi’ out of the initial World Cup squad, but he recovered in time to earn a late call-up in the knock-out rounds. He has since returned to the Premiership where he looks to be approaching his best form once again.
One of the great stories to emerge from the USA 7s program was the return of former skipper Kevin Swiryn after a four year hiatus. After competing for the Eagles in the World Cup in 2011, Swiryn returned to Agen in France but managed only three games before his body broke down. Serious hip and back problems convinced the versatile outside back to hang up his boots rather than risk long-term problems. He returned to the field for the 2013 Maccabiah Games, and then continued on with Seattle, earning notable success on the domestic sevens circuit until his form demanded a recall to the international arena in 2015. So much for retirement!
It’s hard enough to come back after missing one season, but Gonzalo Camacho both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons in their entirety due to complications after a bad shoulder injury suffered while on Argentina duty in the Rugby Championship. He made his return to the rugby pitch in July with the Pumas, and finally pulled on a Tigers first team jersey for the first time in December, a testament not only to Camacho’s resilience but to Leicester’s commitment and patience. His first Premiership start came this past weekend, and we look forward to many more.
THE WINNER
All of the above are exceptional, but surely the most inspiring story of the year is that of Jillion Potter. An international in both 7s and 15s, Potter returned from the 2014 World Cup to learn that a tumor found under her jaw was Stage III Synovial Sarcoma. She had already recovered from a broken neck suffered in 2010 that required a two-year recovery, but this was something entirely different. Months of chemotherapy and radiation ended on March 31. Just weeks later she was back in training, and on December 3 she was captaining the USA Women’s 7s side against Ireland in Dubai, her Olympic dreams well and truly revitalised. For her incredible perseverance and a truly remarkable return, Jillion Potter is the winner of our Spirit of Rugby Award for 2015.
