He was told he may never walk again
Rugby league star Mose Masoe has wowed doctors after walking again – just months after suffering a sickening spinal injury.
Masoe was playing for Hull Kingston Rovers against Wakefield in a pre-season friendly in January when he injured his neck. The New Zealander was left paralysed from the waist down.
The prop forward was rushed into surgery later that day, but was told by doctors and surgeons that he would never fully recover.
On 16th January 2020, it was announced that Masoe would not play rugby league again – he had to retire altogether.
Coaches at Hull Kingston Rovers admitted the New Zealander would have a tough time managing to walk again.
@MoseMasoe time to get the rugby ball out and back doing what he is best at @hullkrofficial #rugbyleague #rugby #hullkr pic.twitter.com/1MvI5QXfB3
— Flex Health (@FlexHealth5) August 12, 2020
However, eight months on from his horror neck injury, Masoe’s rehabilitation is going from strength-to-strength.
Last month, the 31-year-old picked up a rugby ball for the first time since his injury during a course of rehabilitation.
But he would go one better earlier this week.
Just a few days ago, the Wellington native took his first steps unaided since being told he would never walk again.
Mose Masoe takes his first steps unaided just eight months after suffering a serious spinal injury and being told he'd be lucky to walk again. Just incredible! here and see more on @Calendar at 6. pic.twitter.com/xcJdFlL4x1
— Arif Ahmed (@ArifAhmedITV) September 23, 2020
Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this month about the nature of his injury, Masoe said:
“I went in for a tackle and missed it.
“My neck went into hyperextension, and then on the way down it snapped a ligament. When I landed, it snapped another one – and that brought heaps of swelling to my spinal cord.
“I was essentially paralysed from the shoulders down.”
Although born in New Zealand, Mose Masoe played international rugby league for Samoa. He played for Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers before moving to England in 2013 to sign for St. Helens.
He was part of the St. Helens side that won the Betfred Super League in 2014. A stint back in the NRL with St. George Illawarra was cut short by injury, before Masoe joined Hull Kingston Rovers in 2017. He was an integral part of the Hull KR squad that won promotion back to the Super League later that year.
