Parramatta hooker Kaysa Pritchard forced into retirement following testicular injury
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...y/news-story/e23a0e77f7c3d7fa4661506153d54553
Kaysa Pritchard may have played just 47 games in six seasons, but it was enough to force a reputation for having no regard for his body.
And the kamikaze hooker has the scars to prove it.
“I’ve had two surgeries on my shoulder, two on my chest, two on my knee, two on my ankles ... and endless physiotherapy,” Pritchard said. “I was in there all the time. But each time I managed to get back on the horse.” Until one day he couldn’t.
When Pritchard was granted indefinite leave by Parramatta in February, most assumed it was because of last year’s season-ending shoulder reconstruction. But as the Eels prepare to farewell him prior to Saturday’s home game against Brisbane, Pritchard has revealed the real reason behind his early retirement. And it was the lowest of all blows.
“It was on May 5th last year. It was actually my birthday,” Pritchard recalls. The younger brother of former Penrith and Canterbury star Frank went in to make a routine tackle on a Cronulla player early in their round-nine clash. He reeled out of the collision, believing he copped a knee to the stomach. Four hours later he was booked in for emergency surgery, but any fears were allayed when the surgeon told him he could be back within two weeks.
“Sweet, I’ll be back next week,” Pritchard replied before going under the knife. When he woke up at three o’clock the following afternoon, Pritchard was given the news that would change his life.
“One of your testicles were fully crushed, we couldn’t repair it’,” the surgeon said.
“I don’t know how you kept playing.” Not only was his rugby league future in doubt, but so too his shot at being a dad.