Believe. A simple word of just seven letters, but one which proved so much more for Orange teenager Fletcher Wright as he desperately sought to prove doctors wrong after being told he may never walk again just 18 months ago. It became a mantra on his road to recovery after having a golf-ball sized tumour cut from his spinal cord, like it was following his first bout of surgery to remove a seven-centimetre mass from his brain two years prior. The word was there again at Wade Park on Saturday afternoon, only this time it was scrawled on his wrist tape in black marker as the 19-year-old made his much-coveted return to the rugby union field. Mr Wright didn't hide his emotion after his return game, nor did his family who were here to share in a moment which seemed all but impossible after the second tumour was discovered in 2019. "I've actually found it a bit tough to put into words, the feeling," he admitted. "It was a bit like the feeling you'd get as a kid at Christmas, you've waited so long for it and then it finally happens, it all came out after the game, for me and the rest of the family. "It's been such a long journey, to finally be able to do what I'd been working towards for the best part of two years, it feels incredible." There was no easing into it either, the former NSW junior representative proved one of Orange Emus' best in their 37-nil, second grade victory over Cowra. Running from the bench, he scored the side's penultimate try and picked up a best and fairest point too. "I managed to get in a push and shove with one of their blokes too, probably a little bit of built up excitement there I think," he laughed. "Honestly I was just hoping to play 10 or 15 minutes at the back end of the game, maybe make a tackle or two and have a carry. But I got through almost 40 minutes and the body felt pretty good afterwards. "It's a small step though, I'm staying realistic about it and I've told everyone too that there's still a long road ahead, I've got a lot of work to do to hopefully get back to where I want to be. "I'll look for that this year, try and make an impact off the bench and keep building my body back up, then look at getting properly stuck in next year." Fletcher's father Ben was by his side for the entire three-month stint he spent in hospital in Sydney following the second surgery and said "from day dot" his son's dedication and determination was something to behold. Of course there was still doubts, considering the young man's life had been turned upside down, but that made Saturday afternoon all the more "amazing". "To see him not just take the field but give a pretty good account of himself, it was incredible. It's amazing, what he's done," Ben Wright said. "I remember after the surgery when he couldn't even stand up, let alone walk, but his determination and focus was always there. His rehab was only supposed to be an hour a day initially, they'd have to kick him out of the gym after eight. "You could see he was struggling at times. He wouldn't really show it but you could always tell and, honestly, up until Saturday we still weren't really sure what he'd be able to do, I think the last five or 10 per cent to get there was always going to be the hardest. "There was a lot of emotion after the game, Fletch doesn't show much but I knew how much it meant to him after he gave me a hug and broke down a bit. "We'll always be there to support him, but it's up to Fletch now really to see if he can get back to where he wants to be in terms of rugby. Regardless though, we're incredibly proud of him." Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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June 29 2021 - 6:00PM
Orange's Fletcher Wright returns to rugby after recovering from spinal tumour
Matt Findlay
EMOTIONAL: Fletcher Wright (centre) flanked by his family Mackenzie, Danielle, Ben and Cooper after his return to the rugby union field on Saturday. Photo: DANIELLE WRIGHT
Believe.
A simple word of just seven letters, but one which proved so much more for Orange teenager Fletcher Wright as he desperately sought to prove doctors wrong after being told he may never walk again just 18 months ago.
It became a mantra on his road to recovery after having a golf-ball sized tumour cut from his spinal cord, like it was following his first bout of surgery to remove a seven-centimetre mass from his brain two years prior.
The word was there again at Wade Park on Saturday afternoon, only this time it was scrawled on his wrist tape in black marker as the 19-year-old made his much-coveted return to the rugby union field.
Mr Wright didn't hide his emotion after his return game, nor did his family who were here to share in a moment which seemed all but impossible after the second tumour was discovered in 2019.
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"I've actually found it a bit tough to put into words, the feeling," he admitted.
"It was a bit like the feeling you'd get as a kid at Christmas, you've waited so long for it and then it finally happens, it all came out after the game, for me and the rest of the family.
"It's been such a long journey, to finally be able to do what I'd been working towards for the best part of two years, it feels incredible."
There was no easing into it either, the former NSW junior representative proved one of Orange Emus' best in their 37-nil, second grade victory over Cowra.
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Running from the bench, he scored the side's penultimate try and picked up a best and fairest point too.
"I managed to get in a push and shove with one of their blokes too, probably a little bit of built up excitement there I think," he laughed.
"Honestly I was just hoping to play 10 or 15 minutes at the back end of the game, maybe make a tackle or two and have a carry. But I got through almost 40 minutes and the body felt pretty good afterwards.
"It's a small step though, I'm staying realistic about it and I've told everyone too that there's still a long road ahead, I've got a lot of work to do to hopefully get back to where I want to be.
"I'll look for that this year, try and make an impact off the bench and keep building my body back up, then look at getting properly stuck in next year."
Fletcher's father Ben was by his side for the entire three-month stint he spent in hospital in Sydney following the second surgery and said "from day dot" his son's dedication and determination was something to behold.
Of course there was still doubts, considering the young man's life had been turned upside down, but that made Saturday afternoon all the more "amazing".
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"To see him not just take the field but give a pretty good account of himself, it was incredible. It's amazing, what he's done," Ben Wright said.
"I remember after the surgery when he couldn't even stand up, let alone walk, but his determination and focus was always there. His rehab was only supposed to be an hour a day initially, they'd have to kick him out of the gym after eight.
"You could see he was struggling at times. He wouldn't really show it but you could always tell and, honestly, up until Saturday we still weren't really sure what he'd be able to do, I think the last five or 10 per cent to get there was always going to be the hardest.
"There was a lot of emotion after the game, Fletch doesn't show much but I knew how much it meant to him after he gave me a hug and broke down a bit.
"We'll always be there to support him, but it's up to Fletch now really to see if he can get back to where he wants to be in terms of rugby. Regardless though, we're incredibly proud of him."
Discuss "'It feels incredible': Magic moment as Wright makes emotional return to rugby"