Game over for Huxley
16 Mar 2008
Brumbies and Wallabies utility back Julian Huxley has been forced to retire from rugby due to a brain tumour.
Huxley will undergo surgery to remove a tumour discovered two weeks ago. The 28-year-old received the bad news after going for a scan following a collision against the Reds’ James Horwill. It’s now been confirmed he will never play rugby again.
“From the brief discussions I’ve had with the neurosurgeon, no one has ever returned to that level in a contact sport, it could be quite dangerous,” Huxley told The Sun-Herald.
“It really hit me [on Friday] night. Just before going out to the [Brumbies-Hurricanes] game, about 4pm, you start thinking, ‘I’d be getting ready to go out there about now’.”
Huxley said life will be very different watching rugby from the sideline, but he considers himself lucky the tumour was discovered.
“I’m fortunate that I have been playing rugby because going through life every day there’s no reason to get an MRI, you’re not going to get knocked out.
“I’m very fortunate to find [the tumour] and to find it now while I’m young and healthy. Hopefully I’ll get through the operation better than if I was older. It looks like it’s benign but it can transform and get angry and nasty.”
Huxley has been studying a Bachelor of Business in Property at the University of Western Sydney by correspondence, a degree that should get his undivided attention with his rugby career cut short. But this will only commence once he’s back in good health.
17 Comments
16 Mar 2008, 23:34 pm
Gee, that’s tough news. Go well.
16 Mar 2008, 23:48 pm
all the best, mr Huxley!
16 Mar 2008, 23:57 pm
God Speed Julian
17 Mar 2008, 01:14 am
Really horrible when a professional sportsman career is cut short. All the best Hux.
17 Mar 2008, 02:01 am
Good luck for the future Hux!
17 Mar 2008, 03:21 am
really tragic..
17 Mar 2008, 03:22 am
the depression will hit him naturally during this period. I hope he keeps his head up and rugby union support him.
17 Mar 2008, 05:33 am
All the best best Huxey.#7 I also hope so.
17 Mar 2008, 06:03 am
he will have many sleepless nites at this moment.
mentally tough for him to adjust without the rugby.
17 Mar 2008, 06:31 am
Top player, Julian. He’ll be missed. But the medics can sort out that tumour early, so he’s lucky he got that MRI scan when he did, actually.
17 Mar 2008, 06:42 am
I hpe julian turns out to b ok.that tackle wasnt very cool.i hpe dat playa was cited and suspended 4 a long tym.anyways thats gonna hurt da wallabies one way or another.
17 Mar 2008, 06:54 am
Best wishes for the future Julian.A good player indeed.
17 Mar 2008, 08:14 am
Good luck Julian. An untimely end to your rugby career but a brand new start elsewhere.
17 Mar 2008, 09:17 am
All the best Mr. Huxley, from everyone in South Africa. You will be missed.
17 Mar 2008, 10:14 am
What a shame – such a talented player.
17 Mar 2008, 10:45 am
All the best for you and your family
17 Mar 2008, 11:55 am
tough luck julian. at least the medical experts have an opportunity to sort it out while its still non-cancerous. otherwise you would have a tough time ahead probably in middle age. you might suffer depression for the next year or two but look back on all the good moments you had and count this as a blessing in disguise.
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