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Steve Thompson has targeted a place in the England squad at the next World Cup after sealing a remarkable return to the international arena against Australia on Saturday.
Thompson retired from all forms of the game in April 2007 following a serious neck injury and received a £500,000 insurance payment as a result of his injury.
But six months later, he took the massive gamble of paying back the money and returning to action for French side Brive, with whom he had initially joined as part of their coaching set-up.
The 31-year-old completes his stunning turnaround when he takes on the Wallabies at Twickenham this weekend and said he hoped it was merely the "beginning of a long rugby career".
"I can't quite believe my luck to be honest so talking about the World Cup is probably premature but I'd love to go to New Zealand and do what we did back in 2003," he said.
Thompson is regarded as one of the England's finest ever hookers and played an integral role as England triumphed over Australia in Sydney in the World Cup final six years ago.
Like many of his colleagues from that final, his rugby ambitions were then beset by injury problems to the extent that he admitted his relief when he was initially told he would no longer play the game again.
"It had just become such a struggle that when I was told I'd never play again, I didn't really mind," he said. "For me, the constant battle with the pain [at one point he had as little as 40% movement in his neck] was finally over and I could get on with my life even though I didn't have a clue what I'd do."
The chance came up coaching with Brive but, before even starting the job, there was a voice in his mind unsure whether he had made the right choice.
"I got a second opinion from another doctor and I'm sure I was all set to be told the same thing and that was that," he said. "That would have been the final nail in my coffin and I would have quit for good, but it didn't happen like that.
"When I was told I could play again, I didn't have to think about it for long. I knew the hunger was still there and I was determined to get back even with the potential risks."
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The decision has certainly paid off. Thompson has been in sublime form at club level across the Channel and got the nod ahead of former Northampton team-mate Dylan Hartley, in part due to a slight hamstring complaint picked up by Hartley during England training this week.
Thompson is revelling in his bid to add to his current 48 Test caps. "When I run out on Saturday, it'll be really surreal," he said. "I'll be pumped and I'll have a smile on my face. And the nerves will be worse than ever before. It's all a bit unbelievable, but I need to make sure I give my everything and play like it's my last game for England, which it might well be."
Thompson has cut down on his bulk. The 6ft 3in forward now weighs in at 18 stone, a far cry from his 21-stone peak, which he admits was far too high.
"I'm still one of the fatties," joked Thompson, "but there's less bulk than there used to be. I don't keep off the weight that easily, but I'm also not quite as obsessed with the gym as I once was. There's more to front-row play than just being the biggest guy out there.
"Being lighter means I'm quicker around the park - well, that's the plan anyway! - and also has tended to put less pressure on the neck."
Thompson's neck movement is still restricted although fears of another career-threatening injury no longer cause the nightmares they first did on his initial return to action.
"The way the game is, you know injuries are part and parcel of what we do and there's not a lot I can do about it if I get injured again," he said. "If it happens again that'll be a blow, but I know I will have had a second chance at doing what I love and got back to the top and no one can take that away from me.
"I never realised how good things were as a player until they were taken away from me. Now I've got this chance I'm going to enjoy every minute and play to the best of my ability."
As for England's chances in the three November Tests against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, Thompson is understandably confident.
"A lot of people have written us off, but I feel we can come away with three victories," said the Brive and England No.2. "I love playing Australia and there's no bigger game for me."
An even bigger star returning to England action on Saturday is Jonny Wilkinson. The pair celebrated their return with a drink out - Thompson having a beer and Wilkinson drinking a coke - and Thompson admits they have acted like "excited schoolboys" in the build-up to the match at Twickenham.
"Jonny and I have played together a lot and it's nice to return at the same time," he said. "I'm not sure my bulk chuntering around Twickenham will quite make the same headlines as Jonny's boot but, quite frankly, I don't care. I'm just happy to be playing again."
by Matt Majendie
