There goes my rugby career – Luke Beneke
Fighting back with courage and support; Luke remains positive.
Hoërskool Florida’s U16 rugby player Luke Beneke’s promising rugby season was cut short, after a devastating knee injury. In a sport as intense and physically demanding as rugby, injuries are not uncommon. However, few are as severe as the one Luke suffered.
During a fiercely contested match, a sudden collision resulted in a broken knee, requiring immediate surgery and a lengthy recovery process. The fateful day was like any other for Luke, who has been passionately involved in rugby since at a young age. As he recalls, the injury happened in a split second and he saw his rugby career end before his eyes.
“I got tackled and had my foot smacked out from underneath me,” he shared.
Luke further adds that the injury left him in shock, and as he lay on the field, his coach helped him get off the field and his teammates gathered around the ambulance while he was inside. The seriousness of the situation became clear when he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed the extent of the damage.
“I was very nervous, but as soon as I was back in the ward, I wanted to get up and go. The recovery process has been hard as I have to rest my leg continuously and walk on crutches. I can’t sit still and haven’t been on the rugby field for four weeks now, it’s soul-destroying,” Luke remarks, sharing how he felt when he found out that he needed to undergo surgery.
According to Luke’s mother Angie Beneke, she was on the field when the injury happened and it was mind-numbing for her to see Luke cry from pain and not be able to do anything about it.
“My stomach turned and I realised we were in for a very long haul,” she shares. Angie has been helping Luke with his schoolwork since he was booked off after the injury.
Even though Luke doubts he will be able to play any time soon, he is still hopeful for a successful career in rugby as he believes he will make a good comeback after completely healing. All hope is not lost for his mother too, as she she expressed that even though it has been difficult to see his son doubt himself, she is concerned about Luke going back to rugby but will never deny him his passion.
