Super League shutdown giving Wakefield Trinity's Ryan Hampshire perfect chance to recuperate

ONE player who has been grateful for an extended break from action is Wakefield Trinity’s Ryan Hampshire.
RECOVERY: Wakefield Trinity's Ryan Hampshire. Picture: Tony Johnson.RECOVERY: Wakefield Trinity's Ryan Hampshire. Picture: Tony Johnson.
RECOVERY: Wakefield Trinity's Ryan Hampshire. Picture: Tony Johnson.
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The utility back was sidelined with a broken jaw when the Super League season was suspended in March.

He suffered the injury in the first half of Trinity’s defeat to rivals Castleford Tigers in February but still played the entire contest.

Ryan Hampshire tackles Warrington's Gareth Widdop. Picture: Chris Magnall/SWpix.com.Ryan Hampshire tackles Warrington's Gareth Widdop. Picture: Chris Magnall/SWpix.com.
Ryan Hampshire tackles Warrington's Gareth Widdop. Picture: Chris Magnall/SWpix.com.
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Hampshire had previously been struggling with chronic patellar tendonitis, which prevents micro-tears in the knee from healing, but was shaking off the pain in order to continue playing.

However, with the sport now on an enforced shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Wakefield star is grateful to have some time to properly recuperate.

“I am enjoying my time off but I would rather be playing,” he said.

“In November, before the season even started, I picked up a knee injury, I have still got it now but I played on with it.

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“When I broke my jaw it was a rest for me. I am still having problems with my knee now but my jaw is fine.”

Players have been training in isolation since the Government announced social distancing measures in March.

Hampshire sustained a neck problem while in isolation but is confident he will be ready to go when it is time to return to action.

“In lockdown, while training, I ended up getting a compressed nerve in my neck,” continued Hampshire.

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“So I didn’t do anything for two weeks, that is my body pretty much telling me that I need a break.

“When we get a date to come back, I will give myself a six-week block to get myself right for the games.”

The utility back, who signed a two-year contract with his hometown club in November, is glad that the suspension of Super League matches means he won’t miss as much of the season as he feared.

Hampshire has been taking pilates lessons via Zoom to try and recover from his knee problem, which has even caused him to wake up in the night due to the pain.

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He added: “I only missed three games with my jaw but at the beginning of the season I could have easily chose not to play because of the pain I was going through with my knee. It was one of them were I was waking up in the middle of the night with the pain.

“I am just trying to get it right now, so I have been doing a lot of pilates, I have got a pilates teacher who I meet with every week over Zoom.

“She is just trying to help me with that now that I have the time to do it."