Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 is a date deeply etched in the memory bank of Redingensians Rams skipper and sturdy 18-stone, 6'4”, second row Owen Root.
It was on that day that, with just minutes left of Rams match at home to Weston-super-Mare and leading, 25-21, his playing career came to a jarring halt and left him to battle back from a serious knee injury that would keep him sidelined for the next 14 months.
As he recalls: “The Weston fly half came inside and I was tackling him and one of my team mates just caught me in the process of the tackle and it was just unlucky, one of those things!”
In fact he had seriously ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee which would need rebuilding and reconstruction along with his medial knee ligaments.
“The first bit was frustrating really as I wasn't sure how bad the injury was,” he recalls. “Then, obviously, when you find out you have to get to grips with all that you know about the injury and the estimations of how long it's going to be etc. But, it's certainly been very frustrating, especially watching the boys in their play-off last season and not being able to be out there with them. But, that said, the boys have done a great job since I've been out and they've made it a bit easier for me by the success that they've had in my absence.”
A success tempered by their defeat in the end-of-season play-off's away to Old Elthamians when Root could only stand and watch his side narrowly lose out to the Kent side and, ultimately, miss out on promotion.
Nevertheless they are looking odds on favourites for the National League 3 South West title this season and he's certainly been winning his own personal battles and is now looking forward to once again trotting out on the field of combat.
“There's been a big difference over the last few weeks and I tried to do as much as I could over Christmas to gain a bit of an advantage there and we'll see, over the next couple of weeks, how that really sits and gauge where I'm at,” he says. “Realistically this time of the year the grounds are heavy and fitness is key and I've got to make sure that I hit the ground running. Obviously after so long out I'll be looking to get back into small parts of the game and build up a bit. There's no fitness like match fitness!”
Root, who certainly knows all about fitness as a schools Head of PE in his working life, has certainly felt the effects of been sidelined and out of action as he's put on nearly two stone and is currently working hard to get it off and back down to his usual 18 stone battling weight.
And, while he's been sidelined versatile flanker cum centre Andy Amor has been leading the side in his absence and Root is full of praise for what he has achieved.
“Amor's been great!” he says succinctly. “He's a top-class player, very, very versatile and he's a great leader and, probably, the best example that I can think of somebody who leads by example and who would never ask anyone to do anything he wouldn't do as a leader or captain himself and which is a sign of excellent leadership. He's done fantastic and hopefully will continue to do an excellent job as I come back into the side.”
The question will be then whether he, indeed, once more assumes the captaincy or, in fact, leaves it in Amor's proven hands.
“I'm not sure!”, he readily admits. “My first aim is to get myself fit enough and get back in the squad. Amor needs to continue to do the same and obviously whoever it is on that day is picked and will need to do that role and that's what will happen and we'll see how it goes on!”
One things for sure no matter what transpires Root has certainly been a major part of Rams rise to prominence over recent years and he himself is the first to recognise that Rams under CEO Gary Reynolds and, in particular, Director of rugby Mike Tewkesbury is becoming a top-class club.
“Mike Tewkesbury and the coaching team have done have done a great job and I think that this is evidence of everything that's going on here at the club,” he states. “The facilities, the coaching, the strategies, the club ethos, everything is going in a fantastic direction and I think with the 1st team and the 2nd team both being top of their respective leagues is an indicator of exactly how well things are going.”
And he adds: “It's absolutely fantastic that we've got a group people involved be it players, be it support staff, be it management or be it coaching of people who are united in their ambition and their direction and there's exciting times ahead!”
One way or another it certainly an exciting time for Root as he prepares to make his comeback and for Rams who will be very glad to have their influential former Clifton and Henley Hawks lock back in harness and at a time in his career in the second-row when he should be reaching his full potential!
He'll certainly be needed if Rams clinch promotion and they strut their stuff in National League 2 South next season and, who knows, even beyond that in the coming few years!

- ends -