Sanderson back from the brink

At the turn of the year, the degeneratative discs in Sanderson's spine were hampering simple day-to-day activities let alone his ability to perform in one of the most punishing sports at the highest level.

"After the operation to my neck, and after the last injection on my back started to wear off, I couldn't turn my head or get out of bed," Sanderson painfully recalled. "I was thinking what's going on here?' "I got advice from various neurosurgeons who said I should retire. I needed an operation to fuse my spine that meant I would be in bed for eight months. I thought perhaps it's time to think about doing something else."

The flanker blames "poor advice from physiotherapists" and himself "I took a couple of wrong options in terms of operations and I was too eager to get back on occasions" - for the chronic state of his spine.

Retiring though, at the age of 25 from a game in which he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents was never something someone as ferociously competitive as Sanderson was going to take lying down.

He sought the opinions of various specialists before another England star with a history of injury problems finally pointed him in the right direction.

"I spoke to Matt Perry and he mentioned a place called Sports Dimensions in Chiswick," explained Sanderson.

"I went there and had a chat to the specialist who said I can't guarantee you'll be back playing but I can guarantee you will be back sprinting in six weeks without the aid of an injection.' I thought that was great, as at the time I couldn't do my shoelaces up.

"He's worked with me four or five times a week for about two months and then I was working by myself over the summer while all the other guys were on holiday.

"I started pre-season really strong and have just kept it up. I just go back and see him once a week to check my bio-mechanics are OK, as when you have a problem with your back it can turn off certain muscles in your legs. It's really paying off and I'm just so glad to be back on the field."

Sanderson's recovery is testament to his strength of character and his steely determination but he is quick to pay tribute to the unwavering support of Nigel Wray, the Saracens owner and not for just paying the wages on his performance-related contract.

"I owe a lot to Nigel," said Sanderson. "It's unbelievable the lengths he goes to make you feel welcome and the support he has given me has been immense. Nigel and Dimes have been brilliant and so have the fans. Every time I see them they ask how I am and I've felt like I've been lying to them by saying I'll be back soon. That's what I've been hoping for.

"But if it wasn't for Nigel telling me not to come back for the rest of the season and not rush then I probably wouldn't be able to play this season. Before I'd put pressure on myself to get back as quickly as possible, wanting to impress at a new club and I probably did myself a bit more damage."

Sanderson's desire to impress can prove counter-productive and he took the phrase of putting your body on the line to the extreme last season. His first four games in a Saracens shirt back followed back surgery in May last year "that virtually left me crippled until Christmas and required me to have five or six epidurels".

"I owe the club a massive debt and I can't see me going anywhere else as long as me and Dimes stay friends," he continued.

"I'm really happy to play for Saracens for the rest of my career."

Diamond has had a huge influence on Sanderson's career and his abrasive playing style has his mentor's hard-nosed edge stamped all over it. After Diamond was lured from Sale by chief executive Mark Sinderberry, it was no surprise that Sanderson followed suit two months later.

Diamond describes Sanderson as a "leader of men" and the director of rugby's first task when he replaced Rod Kafer in December was to hand Sanderson the captaincy ahead of Hugh Vyvyan.

"He's the one who signed me for Sale when I was 16, so my whole rugby career has been based around Steve Diamond," said Sanderson. "Now he has moved into the coaching side of things we tend to keep our socialising at distance, whereas before we used to go out for a few more beers.

"But there is certainly a depth of understanding between us and I know he's the boss and he treats me like a player, which is how it should be. But I've got respect for him as a coach and I'm sure he's got faith in me as a player as long as I get myself fit."

Diamond is not prone to outbursts of praise but he declared himself "over the moon" at Sanderson's return to action, which came in a probables v possibles game last month a match in which Sanderson claimed he "knocked a few people about".

"I'm really, really happy now," he said. "I've managed to get through training and, more importantly a game, without an injection, which hasn't been the case for a year-and-a-half.

"I'm in better physical shape than I have been for years. I've only missed a couple of days training out of ten weeks due to sickness and soreness, which is fantastic. It's like I've got a new lease of rugby life."

Had Sanderson not made a full recovery then Diamond had earmarked him for a role in his coaching team.

During his lay-off Sanderson became an auxiliary member of the back-room staff, standing in as defence coach while Mike Ford was away with Ireland during the Six Nations.

Although Sanderson took immense satisfaction from the fact that Sarries didn't lose a game during that period, he said it was no substitute for playing.

"I'm not a good watcher and it doesn't get easier it gets harder," he confessed. "Hugh Vyvyan was given a bit of a rest this summer because of his knee and he came up to me and said he couldn't believe how hard it is just watching and how guilty you feel watching the lads do fitness work.

"But when you are back training and playing you don't remember what it was like when you were injured. I'm over the moon to be back and don't want to think about the horrible year I've had."

Should he return to his regal best then it will not be long before Sanderson is knocking on the England door once more.

Although he is toeing the party line of taking one game at a time, Sanderson still has a burning desire to add to his five England caps the last of which came in 2003.

"If I have a good season and so do Saracens then I think I can get back in the side," said Sanderson, who has not heard from England head coach Andy Robinson during his time out.

"Although I'm friendly with a lot of the lads in the squad, I don't think there is too much to worry about you've got back yourself, haven't you?"

Sanderson will hope his has better luck at breaking into England side than his brother, Pat, who had to be content with captaining an England side shorn of their Lion's contingent for the Churchill Cup in the summer, despite a magnificent season with Worcester.

Pat has also seen his career bedevilled by injury and his return to his imperious best last season provides Alex with real inspiration.

"He looked to be on the rugby scrap heap but he came back in style. It would be nice if I could follow the same path," said Sanderson, who already has one eye on the clash with Worcester at Sixways later this month.

"He's been talking himself up all pre-season about how strong he is and how fit he is and I'll have to take him down a peg or two."