Why try-addict Grace cannot quit despite latest injury

Why try-addict Grace cannot quit despite latest injury

ByChris Kirwan

BBC Sport Wales

Almost two years since showing his finishing prowess in an unexpected chance for Wales, Regan Grace has banished thoughts of quitting rugby to hit the comeback trail again.

The wing suffered a third Achilles rupture in four years when training with Sale before a Premiership Cup fixture in January.

He had been preparing for just a ninth competitive outing since returning to rugby union in 2022, but instead was left contemplating his sporting future.

"I just felt that I had to retire," admitted the 29-year-old from Port Talbot, who starred in Super League with St Helens.

"I thought that nobody would want me, but some of the staff at Sale told me not to think like that just yet, that I had to just get myself fit and go from there."

After almost five months of rehab, Grace is on the comeback, helped by mental toughness he says was built by Saints.

He plans to link up with Sharks in pre-season to get fit enough to earn his next deal.

Grace is a leading contender for rugby's unluckiest player after four years of injury misfortune since announcing he was swapping codes.

His exploits with St Helens – where he won four Super League titles and a Challenge Cup, scoring 88 tries in 142 games – earned a big-money move to French club Racing 92.

He insisted on staying in the north-west of England to finish Saints' season, and that was when the first blow happened.

He ruptured his left Achilles before the move to Paris, then tore it again with the Top 14 club.

A hamstring injury suffered as a shock tourist with Wales to Australia in 2024 hampered his hopes at Bath.

Such blows made it understandable that Grace questioned his future when he suffered a third Achilles rupture, this time his right, after an arcing run in training.

"I knew what was ahead of me and that made me wonder if it was worth going through it all again," he said.

"It's not just you putting your body through it all, it affects everyone around you, so should I pack it in?

"It's dark at times because I just want to be part of things all the time."

In the end, it was try-scoring highs that convinced Grace to keep going.

"It's a bit of an addiction because the feeling of playing and scoring is something that you want to keep experiencing again and again," said the wing.

"One day I will be too old to even think about doing it again, so that's why I am giving it everything to come back.

"I am confident I will get back to my best. I have rehabbed with some of the best in the world and know what I need to do and where I need to get myself."

Grace is a realist. His medical record adds to the challenge, but he aims to prove he is worth a shot, be that in league or union.

"I just want to get to a point where I feel strong and confident before I even start thinking of talking to anyone," said Grace, who works with Sale's staff three times a week along with his own gym work.

"I don't want to go to a club when I am not fit. I want to be able to hit the ground running, or at least be ready to do a pre-season.

"One of the reasons that I said I was going to quit straight after the injury was that I don't want to let anybody down.

"If someone puts the time, effort and money into you it is horrible when you don't deliver what is expected.

"I feel that I have let clubs down because I have been willing to give 100% for them but physically haven't been able to."

That Grace remains of interest despite years of inactivity shows just how devastating he was with ball in hand for St Helens.

He moved north after being scouted in Port Talbot and scored a try on debut against fierce rivals Wigan in 2017.

Grace played in the 2021 Challenge Cup final win and Super League Grand finals in 2019, 2020 and 2021 before watching on from the stands when injured for the 2022 success.

"Those years were unreal and some of my proudest and best memories," said Grace, who lives in Orrell.

"I moved here when I was 17 to win stuff. We didn't start off amazingly and we had to build that culture and mindset of being tough and resilient, that we wouldn't give up.

"That has stayed with me for life and has helped me get through rehab."

Grace played for Wales at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and was given a shock chance to represent his country at union in 2024.

He presumed an invite into international camp was a prank call, but the approach was genuine.

Grace earned selection for the tour to Australia, then played through an injury when scoring in the friendly victory against Queensland Reds.

"It was emotional to get called up because the one team that you want to play for when you start with rugby is Wales," he said.

"It felt like that had slipped by, so to get that chance was incredible."

Such rugby highs mean that Grace has not given up after the despair of another injury blow.