‘A massive toll on me mentally’: DU athletes discuss their experiences of long-term injury

With Durham being the sportiest university in the country (yes, officially), The Tab spoke to high-performance student athletes at Durham to learn more about their experiences of being side lined for a considerable period of time due to injury. We spoke to athletes from rugby, football, hockey and cricket to learn more about the impact not being able to play has had on their identity, their day to day life and their mental health.

Lucas Mackenzie: Men’s Hockey

Lucas, a third-year mathematics student at Collingwood, tore his hamstring whilst playing against Bath in the 2023/24 season. This injury was aggravated a few weeks later in a game versus Nottingham Trent which put Lucas out for the season and ensured he could not play in the BUCS semi-final or final. Then, over summer, a third tear occurred in a club cricket match.

“I worked out the gap from when I last played a competitive game, and including off-season and injuries, it was 217 days between hockey matches.

“I didn’t really lose my identity because I was around hockey much, it never went away – if anything, it was more annoying and painful because when you see it around you, it’s what you want but can’t have. You’re on the side lines and it’s tough, all you want to do is play – you’re so close, but so far.

“I was at a bit of a loss of what to do in everyday life – it reduced the rigidity of my schedule, I lost my sporting habits and became a bit less organised – playing hockey makes me more productive I think.

“I want a full season now, that would be a good place to end – it will come with managing my workload better and doing my mobility work.”

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Lucas played his first game back from injury last weekend, and said that despite some pre-match anxiety “it reminded me of how much I really do love playing it, it was really nice to be back”. This was a particularly nice moment for Lucas as it coincided with Family Day, meaning that his mother and step-father were able to come up and watch his return.

Ben Roscoe: Men’s Rugby

Ben, a third-year biological sciences student at Trevelyan, is no stranger to injury. Despite being able to play some valuable minutes in his second year at Durham, he has spent most of first and third year on the side lines. With his consultation and surgery set to take place in January and July respectively, it is unlikely that Ben will return to rugby until at least the spring of 2026.

“First game of this season against Billingham, I twisted my knee inwards, tearing the ACL completely and damaging my meniscus – so, no more rugby for the rest of the year.

“I’m social sec this year, so I don’t feel as out of it as I did in first year when I was just a member of the club – now I’m really involved with how the club functions day to day which is nice.

“The boys I live with are both rugby lads, so when I did my knee and was on the sofa all day while they were out training that was really tough. I went home, to avoid moping around, and even watching my mum play netball was hard – it sounds a bit bizarre, but being on the side line was still difficult for me.

“I’ve grown up in a rugby culture since I was about 11, it’s such a big part of my life – nothing else is as remotely fun, it’s what I want to do. Should I get another injury that puts me out for a while, I might have to step away for a bit, but that’s not something I want to consider for now. Even coaching would be a good thing, rugby is such a brilliant outlet for me.

“I’ve come to terms with it, I’m not going to be upset watching my mates play rugby and I’m really happy for them – I have a good mindset about it, rugby was not going to be a professional career for me, it was tough at the time but I’m now frustrated, rather than upset.”

Ben is currently in recovery as part of a Team Durham group of athletes focusing specifically on ACL injuries, and feels reassured by seeing those coming towards the end of injury, saying “you see them in the position you want to be down the line, I’m optimistic about the future.”

Ellie Simpson: Women’s Football

Ellie, a third-year sports and exercise science student at John Snow, primarily plays football but obtained her ACL injury during a rugby match in March. Despite her injury, Ellie will still been able to play football at the centre back position this season – this has, however, meant dropping down to a lower level of college rather than university football. Ellie is likely to return to her regular standard of football in about a year’s time.

Speaking on her first competitive match coming up soon, Ellie said: “I’m scared, but I’m still going to play.

“I’ve played football since I was five, some of my housemates still play for DUWAFC, and I have stayed away from it a bit which is sad.

“It has made me go to the library for the first time in my life because of it – I have also had a bit of a career transition to darts.”

Referring to the impact the injury has had on her health, Ellie told The Tab: “I just love sport, I love playing it, and not being able to took a massive toll on me mentally – I used it as enjoyment to get away from work, and now I just have to sit down and do nothing.

“Now, I just tend to go to Jimmy’s instead – I’ve definitely become a better boozer.”

Ellie is excited for her upcoming season with John Snow WFC, and will look to lead the team to a strong finish in division one.

Eliza Lloyd: Women’s Cricket

Eliza, a second-year French and Spanish student at Josephine Butler, had her ambitions of playing elite cricket at uni cut short early on in her first year due to a dislocated shoulder. She has recently returned to cricket but has had to drop down from the first team to the second team.

“I’ve played basically my whole life since I was eight, I played county cricket for Devon, and it was a really big part of my life growing up.

“Coming to Durham, playing for an elite women’s team was something I was really looking forward to – now that’s something I can’t really do, even though I want to.

“Academically, cricket has always helped me to concentrate with study, because it just engages your brain in such a way.

“I think I would have found friends faster too if I wasn’t injured – loads of my friends are sporty, I wasn’t able to meet people as quickly. I could go to the socials, but not being able to go to training made it a little bit harder.

“It’s not that I don’t want to play, it’s just that I can’t – it’s not ideal being a bowler when your arm is dislocated.”

Eliza is also playing college hockey at the moment, and will be playing cricket for the time being until she makes a decision on her future in the sport.

Featured images via Team Durham (Durham University Rugby Football Club, Durham University Association Football Club and Durham University Hockey Club)

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