DRIFFIELD Rugby Club’s Gary Shipley is in good spirits two weeks on from breaking his leg in training.
Gary, who turned 26 on Monday, said: “I am feeling good, very good.”
Gary’s injury happened on Tuesday, October 9 when he was protecting the ball over a ruck and 25 stone of front row fell on him, he landed funny and then another front row fell on Gary. “It cracked and when I was the only one who couldn’t stand up I knew it was me,” said the flanker.
Gary went to Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) where he spent two days in traction before having a pin inserted through key hole surgery before being allowed home on the Saturday evening. “I was glad to be home but I was a bit gutted I didn’t get out a bit sooner to watch the game,” added Gary, who made it down to last week’s second team home game with Bradford and will be down at this Saturday’s first team derby with Bridlington cheering on his team mates.
Gary has six weeks of non weight-baring before going back to HRI to check all is going well. The farmer, who lives between Skerne and Hutton Cranswick, added: “I have been doing nothing, just catching up on sleep from harvest. The Monday before I had just finished working away for someone else, and had just finished with that and my dad was happy I was going to be home again, to help on the farm!”
Gary has played for Driffield since he was seven and played a couple of games for the first team last season and was hoping to be a regular part of this season’s team having already played for the first XV until his injury happened, which Gary admitted was one of the main disappointments and said it will be next season before he plays again.
Gary said: “I have had a lot of visitors, and a lot of the players came to see me.
“The club have been brilliant and have really supported me and I would like to thank them and all the get well wishes I have received.”