The Sunday Mail
THE pairing of Old Georgians Rugby Club and new signing Glen Walters is as perfectly odd as it can get.
Two strangely apposite things that when together make a lot more sense than they should. Old Georgians want to make a splash internationally having had dalliances with the Saru Gold Cup and Dubai Invitational Rugby tournament over the last couple of years. The Gold Cup is out of their reach, and their next best hope to go international is the Dubai Invitational.
Walters, on the other hand, at first glance appears to be a has-been who missed his shot at the big time internationally.
Born September 9, 1990, Walters is a New Zealand born fly-half who, once upon a time, was on the fast-track to an All Blacks call-up. Having risen to fame back in 2012 when he broke a 30-year-old record by scoring 164 points in nine games for then-provincial side Wairarapa Bush, a groin injury side-lined him for 16 months and almost cost him his career.
He had also made a few caps for All Blacks Marist XV and Sevens sides as well as junior teams.
“That (injury) was indeed a real low point in my life,” says Walters. “I suffered a groin injury back in 2015 which, unfortunately, I carried into parts of 2016 largely due to it being misdiagnosed as just a strain.
“I received a lot of strange responses from the doctors as they were not sure what was wrong with my muscles. At first they thought I had just strained my groin and I did a few rehab stints all the while occasionally playing through the pain,” he said. When the correct diagnosis came, it was discovered Walters had osteitis pubis, an inflammation of the pubic symphysis and surrounding muscle insertions.
“It was a long winding road, trying to get those muscles moving again,” says the former Kuranui College pupil.
“Very frustrating is all I can say, about that time, as I found it hard to even watch rugby, especially when my team played. It’s over now; I’m back now and already playing.”
The time spent on the sidelines may have been a blessing in disguise, reinvigorating his love for life and adventure. It is that sense of adventure that put him directly on the path towards OGs.
“I am a very adventurous person, and when the chance to come play a little rugby here in Zimbabwe availed itself, I immediately jumped on it. This is my first time visiting Africa.
“I’m very good friends with (Zimbabwe rugby player) Keith Murray from his days in Wellington and it was him who told me about the club.
“From what he told me about the club’s rich history and aspirations, I was immediately sold on coming here and playing.”
Walters been in Zimbabwe for just over a week and hopes to use the Dubai Invitational next month as a springboard into the limelight – and on that he and OGs have a similar goal.
