Aussie Sevens captain James Stannard says he’s lucky to be alive after a one-punch attack, but he already has his sights set on a Sevens comeback this season.
Stannard spoke to media on Monday, just three days after fracturing his skull as a result of an alleged coward punch, bearing the still painfully fresh signs of his injuries, in a decision he made to show the world he was on the road to recovery.
The 35-year-old was far from the laconic, energetic larrikin that many Sevens fans would recognise, still experiencing dizziness when walking, with a ginger 50-metre walk to stand in front of cameras the longest he has made since the attack.
An emotional Stannard said he harboured no anger over how things had unfolded and had no message for his attacker, instead just immense gratitude for the support he received on the night and in the days since.
When doctors told him of his injuries, there was no escaping exactly how lucky Stannard was to survive, let alone be looking at the possibility of a full recovery.
"I've got a fractured skull with a little bit of bleeding, they said, and I don't really know the full extent of it to be honest, I'm not a doctor (but) that just sounds bad for me.
“I'm very lucky to be here.”
Stannard said Sevens coach Andy Friend had barely left his side in recent days, alongside his wife Kim and their children, to whom he was finally able to return home on Sunday.
Friend and teammates Lewis Holland and Ben O’Donnell helped detain the offender after Stannard was hit, and Stannard choked up when trying to articulate what their actions meant to him.
“My bond's amazing with those blokes, I don't know if I'd be here without those blokes,” he said.
“I've messaged them personally and words can't describe how much I appreciate them being there.”
Though he said he was ‘heartbroken’ to be ruled out of his third, and final, Commonwealth Games, the veteran halfback could be back in training in close to six weeks, if his recovery goes smoothly.
In what is to be Stannard’s final season of Sevens after more than a decade of professional rugby, he is determined to make it back for July’s World Cup.
“I spoke to Lewis (Holland) and Jesse (Parahi) last night actually,” he said.
“Lewi got injured a couple of weeks ago and we spoke about it then too because this is my last year, I've got limited opportunities to play.
“This is a setback for that.
“I spoke to them last night and we discussed I'll try to do everything I can to get right for a World Cup and have one last dance with those blokes.”
Stannard said he had been overwhelmed by the messages of support from fans, opponents and friends in recent days, and women’s sevens star Emilee Cherry added to that chorus on Monday, speaking on the team’s arrival to the Gold Coast.
“It's really shocking news hearing what happened to Chucky on the weekend, it hit the whole of Rugby Australia, “ she said.
“He’s had a huge impact on our team, he coached at Macquarie Uni (in the Uni 7s) and he’s always up with us giving us advice.
“The good news is he was out of hospital yesterday and on the mend, so we'll be sending all our best wishes and love to Chucky over the next few weeks.”
Stannard isn’t sure whether he will be in the stands on the Gold Coast when the men kick off their campaign on April 14, but the pain of missing the tournament has been squarely put in perspective.
“Football's just a small part of your life. I've got a family and something to go to after football, that's more important than footy.
“I'm just glad I'm here to enjoy those moments with them.
“The Comm Games is very small thing. Maybe now (I’ll be disappointed to miss it) but further down the track it doesn't mean as much.”
