NSW Waratahs prop Angus Bell concedes he thought his career was over last year after a string of long-term injuries.
Bell is back and firing for the Waratahs, set to bring up 50 games on Friday against the Chiefs.
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However, the 24-year-old revealed he considered giving up the game last year after back-to-back setbacks with his toe.
“I thought I was probably going to retire last year,” a candid Bell told reporters. “I didn't really know if I would play in the front-row again, which was pretty daunting.
“It's been an incredible journey. I debuted at 18 and am now 24, so I'm a little bit older.
“I've loved my time here at the Waratahs. I just want to keep enjoying it. It's given me an opportunity to get better as a person and get better as a rugby player.
“I'm forever grateful for that. There's been some times where I've doubted that I'd get to 50 or even be playing again. It's pretty surreal.”
Bell's foot issues are documented, and he spent large parts of the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons on the sidelines as a result.
It left the powerful prop questioning his legacy and what his time at the Waratahs meant to him and his teammates.
“If my time were to come to an end, I just wanted to be remembered when someone looks back on their career for the Tahs and they remember playing with me, they just remember a guy that's uncompromising and wants to work hard for his mate,” he said.
"If I could leave a little bit of a legacy, if it was to come to an end, then that would be awesome."
Bell is pain and injury-free after renowned surgeon Ben Forster in Brisbane remodelled his foot to fix the issue last season.
Since then, the loosehead hasn't missed a game all season and was cherishing the moment after thinking his time in the sky blue and gold jerseys was up.
“I definitely appreciate it a lot more than I did as an 18-year-old. I thought I was invincible," Bell admits.
“You soon learn that rugby and life throw curveballs. When you reflect on the lows of what happens in your career, they're probably the more memorable parts because you come back from them.
“Especially last year, I didn't think I'd play for the Wallabies and even 2023, I didn’t think i”d make the World Cup. Definitely, there's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears. I'm not going to sit here and say I wasn't upset.
“I genuinely thought it was over.
"Dan Mannix and Warwrick Harrington were both instrumental in my rehab. My surgeon, Ben Forster, did something that's never been done, helping me get back to the field. Just all the little things, reflecting on how I've come back and still want to try and get to where personally I want to be."
