England's Tom Curry said on Monday he 'curled up in a ball' and cried when told the full extent of a hip problem that saw him miss most of last season and left the Sale flanker fearing for his rugby career.
Curry, having suffered pain during England's semi-final run at last year's World Cup in France, was diagnosed with a condition meaning the ball in the hip joint is not entirely round.
As he prepared for surgery, the now 26-year-old was told it might be the end of his professional career.
'It was horrible,' Curry told reporters.
'I was lucky because I had (girlfriend) Lilla there at the time but I literally just cried. I curled up into a ball. I just couldn't really process it - it was a surreal moment.'
