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.
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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."
Having undergone a six-hour operation, Curry then travelled twice a week for several months of specialist coaching sessions where he had to learn how to run again.
"I tried to run and I couldn't run," Curry said. "I think that was the toughest hurdle to get over because I just couldn't do it and it felt the same...
"I worked with some really special guys, their eye for detail is amazing and it genuinely taught me to run again."
Curry, following a gruelling rehabilitation regime, eventually recovered sufficiently to play just over 30 minutes of Sale's Premiership semi-final loss to Bath in June.
He was then immediately recalled by Steve Borthwick for England's post-season tour of Japan and New Zealand, despite Sale boss Alex Sanderson saying the intensity of international rugby so soon after returning could jeopardise Curry's long-term prospects.
But the backing from England coach Borthwick was a huge boost to Curry's morale.
"It meant everything," he said. "In terms of being able to have that confidence from Steve and the coaches, it was massive.
"I missed a bit of the World Cup at the start, played a bit, missed the Six Nations. I just want to repay him by getting myself fit, staying fit, and playing as well as I can really."
Curry insisted his injury would not alter his all-action style.
"This hasn't happened because of contact. This has happened just because I have run a bit too much."
But he added it had changed him as a person, ahead of Sale's season-opener against Harlequins on Sunday.
"You have to drop a lot of ego. You can't just go 'I am going to do this'. You have to realise what is going to make you better and it makes you a lot smarter."
