Tom Curry thanks partner for helping him through 'toughest period of his life'

The 26-year-old had surgery in February following a diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, a condition where the hip joint's ball isn't perfectly round, potentially causing long-term damage. Curry’s diagnosis came after England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Reflecting on the moment he learned of the severity of his condition, Curry described it as “horrible.” He said: "I was lucky because Lilla was there at the time, but I just cried. I curled up into a ball. I couldn’t process it—it was surreal."

One of the hardest parts of his recovery was being unable to run. "That was the toughest hurdle to get over because it felt like nothing was improving," Curry said.

However, the Sale Sharks star credits his rehabilitation team at Loughborough for helping him through the darkest moments. "I worked with some really special people. Their eye for detail was incredible, and they essentially taught me how to run again."

Curry made his comeback over the summer, featuring in three of England's warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup, including a win over Japan and two close defeats against New Zealand.

"It meant everything to me," Curry said. "Having the confidence of Steve [Borthwick] and the coaches was huge. I missed parts of the World Cup and Six Nations, so now I just want to stay fit and give my best."

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The flanker was “first on the team-sheet,” according to Martin Johnson and Sir Clive Woodward. Praised by Jeremy Guscott for his “work rate”, it is no wonder the forward scored so many points.

Curry said: "I have to go Hilly. As a mentor growing up from 15 he has to be in my team. His reputation and how good he was as a player, I think he'd be really fun to play with."

The Zimbabwe-born flanker, who was capped 83 times over an 11-year period, hung up his boots earlier this year following a stellar career.

Curry said: "Watching him a lot, he's probably the person I've tried to emulate most. Also not just as a player, I'd love to have been around him as a bloke during his training regime. It always looked intense.

"An incredible player."

An integral part of the World Cup-winning squad 13 years ago. His commitment to the badge is also shown at club level, with 227 appearances for Wasps.

Curry said: "Dallaglio was a big player for us growing up and our Dad loved him. His ability at eight and his physical carrying I think would make this back-row really exciting. Probably a bit of a boring answer.

Chabal, born on December 8, 1977, is a retired French rugby player renowned for his fierce playing style and iconic beard. A stalwart in the forward pack, Chabal earned the nickname "The Caveman" for his intimidating presence on the field. Post-retirement, he transitioned into media and coaching roles.

"The only other option would be Sebastien Chabal. He was probably the first person we idolised as Sale supporters when we moved to the North West."

Can you identify how many of the top 20 most-capped England rugby players you can name?

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