Josh Hodge insists he’s looking to make up for lost time after making his return to first team action at Exeter Chiefs.
The 23-year-old had made a barnstorming start to the season with the Devon club, helping them to secure a place in the last four of the Premiership Rugby Cup, as well as scoring a hat-trick of tries in Exeter’s Premiership thumping of Saracens 65-10.
A week later, though, disaster struck for the gifted full-back as he was forced from the field at Harlequins with a dislocated elbow.
Faced with the prospect of being potentially sidelined for up to five months, it was rotten luck for the Lancaster-born back who was clearly blossoming in the Chiefs anchor role following the summer retirement of Stuart Hogg.
Hodge, however, is a fiercely determined character and despite the prognosis and the subsequent surgery that followed, he left no stone unturned in terms of his rehab programme, returning to action quicker than anticipated at the end of last month.
“To get the injury when I did, it was really disappointing,” said Hodge. “I had a good pre-season and then started the season really well, as had the team, and I was really looking to build and kick on with things. We had done really well in the Premiership Cup games and then we beat Saracens like we did, so it couldn’t have
been any better. A week ond half of the season to miership. The boys have Dafydd Jenkins that have later, though, I get injured go – and there is lots to done brilliantly whilst I made many sit up and and it all came to a halt. play for. have been out, but now I take notice with some notable displays this term. It was one of those freak “We’re in the semi-finals of the Prem Cup, last and play my part.” “It’s different to last sea-want to get back in there injuries, which you can’t do much about. As soon 16 of Europe and we’re Hodge is part of a new son in some ways, but in as I was told I could be nicely placed in the Pre-and youthful Chiefs led by other ways we’ve still got out for up to five months, that togetherness that has
I wanted to get that figure always been here,” said down.” Hodge. “It’s been great to Hodge worked closely see so many of the younger boys come through like with the club’s physio and rehab teams following they have. They’ve really his surgery and was soon stepped up, as have others, and you’ve seen that reaping his rewards from the early starts and the with guys getting international call-ups. late finishes.
“It was tough at times, “They are being rewarded for what they’ve but I had that goal that I wanted to be back before been doing on the pitch. the break in the season,” Hopefully, I can follow a he added. “I worked hard similar path moving forward, but for now I’m conin the gym, I put in the hours, and now I just centrating on the Chiefs want to make up for lost and making sure we do time. We’ve got a big sec-the best we can.”
