News

Huxley ready to take a chance

October 13 2008

Wallaby Julien Huxley is set to accept the risks involved in making a return to rugby, but won't waste people's time if doctors fail to give him a green light.

Having undergone surgery on a brain tumour, after collapsing on the field playing for the Brumbies back in March, Huxley is not keen to resume his playing career.

Despite still being treated with chemotherapy the full-back is beginning preparations for pre-season training with the Brumbies, but will first consult specialists to gauge whether the dangers involved are too great.

Huxley says he has recovered well from the operation and, after completing radiotherapy, is now in his second cycle of chemo.

In case he is unable to return Huxley has a kicking coach job lined up with the Brumbies, but insists the desire to resume playing is burning strong.

"Hopefully we will track down and corner a few specialists in the next month or so, so we can really make a decision on whether it's safe enough to commit to it," Huxley told Fox Sports.

"If we make a decision it's not, I don't want to be wasting anyone's time down here trying to train with the boys. It is either all-in or nothing."

Understandably the news of the tumour came as a massive shock to Huxley, as well as the rest of the rugby world, but he is now prepared for a certain degree of risk as he looks to return to the field.

But Huxley says most in the medical fraternity are unwilling to look past the risk of further damage, however small.

"They've been reluctant to explore it with me because of worry about if something goes wrong," he said.

"It is hard with medical professionals to pin them down, and get them to give you a realistic point of view because if there is any sort of risk they generally err on the side of caution and say: 'Nuh, no chance. Don't do it.'

"But with what's happened this year, you realise that planning for 50 years down the track ... you may not even get there, you could get hit by a bus.

"So if there is some small risk and that's it, well, I think I would be pretty keen to have a crack under those odds. But I need to see a few of them face to face now that I am getting a bit more serious about it and get a realistic answer."