Special send-off for Hanks

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs may have slipped to a last-gasp defeat against Harlequins on Sunday, but for James Hanks it was still a special occasion.

The former Chiefs lock was forced to call time on his 10-year career with the Aviva Premiership club last month after he failed to recover fully from a serious neck injury sustained in their LV= Cup semi-final victory at Bath in March.

For one last time, though, the 30-year-old was happy to soak up the famous Sandy Park atmosphere as he joined his team-mates on their end of season lap of honour to thank the Tribe for their unwavering support throughout the campaign.

It was an emotional time for Hanks, who alongside former skipper Tom Hayes and Chris Whitehead, have all been forced to retire from the game this season due to injuries sustained.

Speaking following the final whistle, the Sidcup-born forward gave his thoughts on life at the Chiefs and what the past ten years had brought to him personally. He said: "It has been a special time for me at the club and to see all the fans and say thank you to them was really important for me.

"It was an emotional week and it was tough, especially seeing all the guys out there again today, but hopefully I'll be stronger for it in the long run.

"For me, I've had some amazing memories and I have achieved so much and done things that I thought I'd never do. It's been great to be part of a special club and one that is really going places. The ambition has always been there and that's what I bought into for all the years.

"Of course I'll miss playing out there in front of the fans and just the banter and camaraderie in the changing rooms. It will be tough but life moves on and you have got to move with it."

Hanks, who made 192 first team appearances in total for the Chiefs, has been an integral part of the club's rise out of the Championship and into the Aviva Premiership, whilst more recently he has featured signifcantly in the club's passage through Europe both in the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cup.

And, though he was forced to miss the club's LV= Cup final against Northampton Saints, Hanks played his part in the club's Exeter's first major triumph in their 143-year history before bowing out.

"Throughout my time here it's been a great journey and I've got to play with a great bunch of lads, some superb coaches and in front of what I think are the best set of fans in the country. Obviously we've come a long way over the years, particularly since the old County Ground days, so I'm jealous of the guys who get to play in the bigger stadium and on the new pitch, but they'll have amazing foundations from which to work from next year."

As is part and parcel of moden-day rugby, injuries are somewhat of an occupational hazard and having sustained such a serious injury, Hanks knew once he has spoken to the medical experts about his condition that there was only option to take.

He added: "It takes years and years to get to the level you want to be at and a lot of dedication and hard work. Unfortunately sometimes the body just won't let you carry on, which is a shame, but that's the way the game is going. It's a physical sport and it's a collision sport, but it is a hell of a lot of fun."