Hello Josh-
Came across this and I wanted to see if there were any rugby players on this forum. Don't know if you mean rugby or NFL football when you ask about getting back in. Hoping you meant rugby. I just witnessed my first rugby match yesterday at the Western Championships being held over on Portland Ave. in Tacoma, WA. All I can say is it was one of the most athletic displays of coordination, athleticism and brute human endurance I've ever seen. These dude were unbelievable and honestly made the NFL really look like a bunch of overpaid, over protected bunch of wimps. The rugby guys body slammed, tackled, dragged each other to the ground with bone snapping force and not much more than a pair of shorts and some cleats. No mouth guards, helmets, thigh pads, shoulder pads- just mind boggling to me. And the running and ball passing- they could cut, turn, spin and evade their tacklers like they were wired- you don't see that kind of running even in college games anymore and the speed these guys could turn on with a switch was again, just incredible. I've participated in some pretty physical martial arts but I felt absolutely humbled watching the game. Can't fathom how the field isn't covered in blood and stretcher bearers by the end of the game. To answer your question Josh- if you were playing before surgery you must have been a hell of an athlete and in great shape. If your doctor cleared you for this wild mayhem he must have been pretty confident in his own work but my hat is off to you for even wanting to get back out on the field and push that envelope. If you run across this I'd be glad to hear how things panned out for you. I'm about the same stage of recovery, but 34 years older and truth is I was wincing just watching these guys play. But they sure looked like they were having fun. I should mention- I am bilateral HR and I know what you mean about the knee to the chest- at 10.5 months it's getting there but not strong yet and jogging is just beginning to work for me as well.