“Kindly,” the physician instructed, his expression severe and his tone laden with urgency. “Secure the cervical collar at once.”
Carlu Sadie trembled. During those critical moments, his mind spun, and his reality fractured. His professional rugby aspirations appeared on the verge of ending. His existence in Bordeaux among the continental players vanished. Likewise, the extensive agreement he had recently secured with the Bulls in South Africa dissolved. His spouse, Niritha, had already moved to Pretoria to prepare the residence they had acquired for the upcoming playing year.
Forty-eight hours prior, in January 2025, Sadie’s Bordeaux-Begles squad competed against Lyon at their home ground, the Chaban-Delmas stadium. During a scrum collapse, Sadie, the nearly 140-kilogram prop, experienced a sudden shock in his cervical region. Initially, he felt no discomfort or indicators of injury. “Just part of being a prop… continue,” he reasoned. Yet, during the subsequent engagement, similar sensations recurred. Three distinct impacts this time. More intense. A feeling that instills dread. Sadie attempted to rise but found himself unable to support his head. He recounted the sensation as if his head was detached, resembling an unfastened bottle cap, unstable and shifting at the top of his spine. This was no longer a minor professional hazard.
“My original plan was to travel to South Africa the following morning to meet my wife. The match had commenced at 9 PM, and upon returning home, I contacted her at 1 AM, relaying, ‘listen, I’m unable to journey, there’s an issue, I require examinations – discontinue the flight’.
“They had discharged me with a cervical support, and after exiting the shower, attempting to dry my hair, I experienced that identical sensation, a rhythmic knocking in my neck. I reached out to the physician around 1:45 AM. Throughout that evening, myriad thoughts consumed me. My wife called and, it remains vivid, she stayed connected via WhatsApp call all night as I was by myself in the house.”
The subsequent morning, Sadie was directed to a military medical facility where the possibility of a fracture was dismissed. A definitive diagnosis remained elusive. He insisted on obtaining clarity and returned to the hospital the day after for both an MRI and a dynamic x-ray. It was then that the atmosphere shifted considerably.
“The physician received my findings and stated I would be meeting the cervical expert without delay,” Sadie recalled. “At that point, a chill sensation permeated my entire being. This individual’s schedule is so demanding that bookings are typically made months ahead – I waited outside his consultation room for four hours to ensure I could be seen urgently that same day.
Mate, that’s not growing back. You were 2mm away from death.
“With an unreadable expression, he faced me and inquired, ‘are you feeling alright?’ Yes, perfectly fine, I can lift items, handle anything. I had removed my neck support to demonstrate my head mobility, and it was then he instructed me to reapply it instantly.”
In the upper region of the spine, the C1 and C2 cervical vertebrae articulate resembling components of a puzzle. Their function is to bear the cranium and enable its range of motion. Sadie joined his large digits to illustrate their connection. Over the preceding year, he had gained considerable knowledge of vertebral structure. Ligaments essentially secure these bones firmly. Analogous to the eminent Springbok Steven Kitshoff earlier, Sadie had completely severed one of these crucial fibrous tissues.
“Understood,” he conveyed to the expert. “What is the typical regeneration period for this?”
The medical professional’s gaze broadened. “My friend, that will not regenerate. You were mere millimeters from fatality.”
“I experienced profound disbelief,” Sadie expressed. “My sole thought was, ‘identical to Kitshoff?’ The condition was precisely alike. A fortnight prior, at the training facility, my teammates, knowing I am South African, had inquired about Kitshoff’s situation. I had informed them that his prospects of returning to the field seemed unfavorable. Now, two weeks later, I received the very same diagnosis.
“The expert informed me that surgical intervention would be necessary, involving harvesting bone material from my hip, implanting it into my neck, and securing two screws. He declared, ‘currently, a significant impact would be fatal; whiplash, equally so.’ I questioned him regarding the timing of the procedure. I still needed to operate my vehicle… any incident was possible, like another driver colliding with me from behind.
“His response was, ‘I will be away on vacation for three weeks, and I will meet with you upon my return.’ What? My friend, you’ve just indicated my existence is precarious, and now I must wait three weeks to see you? That moment truly offered a harsh perspective on reality.”
Sadie contacted Niritha. The rugby forward, leaning heavily on his car’s steering wheel in the medical facility’s parking lot. His spouse, solitary in the empty dwelling they might never establish as their permanent residence. Unrestrained tears streamed down his face.
“I am devastated, weeping inside my vehicle. My professional journey has concluded. I immediately telephoned Yannick Bru, our head coach, conveying my gratitude for all his efforts, for granting me this significant chance to compete for Bordeaux and integrating me into a squad I never imagined joining.”
Jake White didn’t believe one word coming out of my mouth. His doctor was telling him my chances were slim.
Subsequently, an extraordinary turn of events unfolded. Bru conversed with Laurent Marti, Bordeaux’s chairman and the financial architect of the formidable club. They admired Sadie’s contributions and desired to retain him, despite his compromised ligaments. Remarkably, they devised a strategy to release a forward with a seriously injured neck from his recently signed agreement.
Upon returning to Loftus, Sadie recounts Jake White’s astonishment. The Bulls’ leader suspected foul play. No team would invest such a sum in a prop facing such a severe, career-ending risk. Sadie forwarded his diagnostic images to the Bulls’ medical professional, and the prognosis was dire. Nevertheless, Bru and his staff remained optimistic about his return to play.
“Yannick requested my continued presence. I responded, ‘my neck is fractured, mirroring Kitshoff’s injury, and my prospects of recovery are minimal.’ Yannick was undeterred. The identical cervical specialist had previously treated another Bordeaux forward, a Georgian player whom they claimed returned with enhanced strength, akin to a powerhouse.
“He directed me to travel to South Africa and meet with the Bulls’ chief executive. At this point, fear gripped me. I was wearing the neck support, apprehensive about aerial disturbances during the flight. Jake White dismissed every statement I uttered. His medical expert was relaying that my recovery odds were poor. However, in France, all indications were positive, with assurances of my well-being, as the physiotherapists had prior success, and the expert and rehabilitation personnel were located in Bordeaux.
“A protracted dispute then commenced. Laurent Marti declared, ‘if your desire is to remain, we shall facilitate it.’ There was no hesitation within me. The Bulls wished for my surgical procedure to occur in France and for my rehabilitation to take place in Pretoria. Ultimately, Laurent inquired, ‘what is your preference?’ They conveyed the financial figure, and he settled it. Consequently, I was released from my agreement.”
This entire challenging experience cultivated a remarkable connection linking the sportsman and his team, the participant and his mentor. Athletes frequently articulate their commitment to a grander purpose. Concepts like ‘family’ ethos and organizational culture are widely promoted by entities globally. For Sadie, these declarations held genuine, palpable significance.
“Understanding their actions, one exerts additional effort for their benefit,” he stated. “You awaken each day aware that the club represents a destination you eagerly anticipate, a location where you desire to be. That encapsulates my sentiment toward Bordeaux.”
Upon returning for his pre-surgical consultation, Sadie found his cervical expert to be in an optimistic state. The surgeon had performed procedures on sixteen rugby competitors suffering from the identical affliction, with fourteen successfully resuming their sport.
“I conveyed to him my willingness to obey every instruction he provided,” the forward recounted. “I am prepared to slumber on the sofa in this room, completely unconcerned about comfort.”
The initial, and most critical, challenge was the surgical process itself. Another chilling realization confronted Sadie.
He said there’s a 50-50 chance you might die on the table. When I’m putting the two screws in your neck, if I touch the spinal cord, you’re done. If I touch the arteries, you are bleeding out on the table.
“He declared there was an even probability of expiring during the procedure. You possess two blood vessels supplying the brain and then there is the nerve column. As I insert the pair of fasteners into your cervical area, should I make contact with the column, it is over for you. Should I graze the vessels, you will hemorrhage on the operating surface. My spouse, encountering this physician for the first occasion, was weeping. We understood the gravity of the surgery.
“The surgical intervention was anticipated to last between 80 and 90 minutes. Four-and-a-half hours subsequently, I had not emerged, and no one communicated with her. Her proficiency in French was limited. In France, one can typically arrange hospital admission and secure a private bed. They were instructing her to vacate the area, as he would not be assigned to that particular space.
“She recounted commencing prayers – ‘dear God, allow me simply to behold him’ – and just as she concluded, I was wheeled back through the emergency entrance, and the surgeon confirmed the procedure had proceeded successfully.”
Following a period of recuperation, Sadie commenced rehabilitation. A renowned regional physiotherapist named Luc Senegas assumed the role of his mentor. Senegas is an expert in the recovery of the cervical and lumbar spine. He has a military background, and his techniques, to those unfamiliar, seem unconventional. Injured rugby players hold him in high regard.
“He is an incredible individual,” Sadie observed. “I would arrive at 8 AM, and he would instruct me to recline on a mat with my head resting on a cushion, then ‘elevate’ my entire physique using my head, maintaining the position for six seconds before releasing. Ten repetitions, eight series. Alright, simple enough.
“Nonetheless, exhaustion sets in rapidly. I found myself entirely unable to exercise and had accumulated a substantial amount of mass. My weight increased by 15 kilograms, surpassing 150 kilograms. You begin to perspire profusely, and onlookers perceive your arduous efforts, making you feel insignificant, so distant from resuming professional rugby.
“I complete the eighty repetitions and assume my session for the day is finished. He then informs me that constituted merely the preliminary exercise. Following that, he systematically intensified the regimen.
“He typically prescribed around 400-500 repetitions per training period, and I attended his sessions five times weekly for nine consecutive weeks. My spouse accompanied me to assist with tracking the counts, as often, with such high numbers, one loses track and grows frustrated. She consistently motivated me. Her unwavering support is why I have returned to competitive play.
“Luc would hyperextend my neck, apply resistance to my neck simulating a scrum posture, and perform lateral bridges utilizing a wall. The quantity of repetitions escalated, and the loads became more substantial. I was readily able to exert force equivalent to 70-80 kilograms with my cervical muscles. Luc routinely gauges your neck measurements each week and can observe its development. My circumference increased from 51 centimeters to 60 centimeters.”
By the ninth week, having amassed over 100 hours of recuperative therapy, Senegas summoned Sadie for a private discussion. There remained a single final impediment to overcome. Successfully navigating this, and he would be cleared to resume rugby. Sadie’s pulse quickened slightly.
“Luc instructed me, ‘you will invert yourself, perform a handstand, and then raise your hands.’ I glanced at my spouse, who was present, and confided that this individual was insane. There was absolutely no possibility, half a year after surgery, that I would attempt such a feat.
“My weight was considerable. Truly substantial. I was unable to sprint; the club mandated intense gym work to maximize strength in my shoulders and neck, yet I struggled to shed the extra mass. I began to feel overwhelmingly pessimistic.
“I descended, executed the handstand, and then released my hands. He observed me and stated, ‘you are finished. Your recuperation is complete; you are cleared to play again.’ I still had an additional two months remaining on my prescribed regimen. ‘You are concluded, my friend, I assure you. If you can stabilize 150 kilograms using your cranium, you possess no underlying issues.’ I owe him eternal gratitude. To this day, he transmits communications and exercise plans, and he has commenced collaboration with Bordeaux’s scrum trainer.”
Sadie was absent for Bordeaux’s triumphant ascent to European supremacy. He recommenced playing in August, eight months following the initial cervical fissures. He has reduced his weight by almost 15 kilograms and is now at his lightest since his schooling years. Sustaining oneself amidst Bordeaux’s captivating pandemonium necessitates significant drive. Especially when Matthieu Jalibert performs unexpected feats, or Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey pierce opposing defenses on the flanks.
“One can never anticipate ‘Jalib’s’ next move, and should they achieve a line penetration, you merely need to amble back to the center line,” he chuckled.
You never see anyone talk about our pack, it’s always the backline in the media. If you do the job, you can give the ability to Louis or ‘Dams’ or anyone
Nevertheless, the formidable scrummaging prowess that distinguished Sadie as a youth from a lesser-known Western Cape community, garnered him recognition with the Sharks and the Lions, and eventually provided passage to the demanding, ceaseless cycle of French rugby, has never diminished.
During Bordeaux’s pair of Champions Cup fixtures against Northampton and Bristol in the preceding month, Sadie handled the ball on a singular occasion. The scrum infringement tally, with the South African present on the pitch, stood at six to one in favor of the victors. He caused Danilo Fischetti, Italy’s top loosehead prop, to be temporarily suspended within 20 minutes of their 2025 final reprise.
“Maintaining peak physical condition is essential to participate in UBB’s strategy, as practice sessions involve three to four minutes of uninterrupted gameplay, requiring you to cover a specific distance in meters.
“It’s uncommon for the front-row forwards to receive extensive possession, given that game schemes prioritize getting the ball to the key players. You are aware that for specific maneuvers, you must engage that breakdown irrespective of circumstances, and with speed. Therefore, when a prop does secure the ball, it’s practically a noteworthy event.
“Prior to the Northampton game, the forward pack declared, ‘we acknowledge our backline possesses exceptional talent, but what about us? We are equally capable. Our role extends beyond merely clearing rucks and setting up their offensive actions.’
“Should we execute the set-piece proficiently with the individuals in our backline, it creates a formidable combination. This was an area of deficiency early in the season. Currently, we are refining our operational framework. Public discourse seldom focuses on our forward unit; media attention consistently centers on the backline. If you fulfill your duties, you empower Louis, ‘Dams’, or any other player – they will inflict significant impact.”
There is an unusual parallel in Sadie’s narrative, particularly how it intersects with Kitshoff’s. A dedicated gym enthusiast, he fought his way to securing a professional contract with the Stormers during his late adolescent years. The nickname ‘Spicy Plum’ was anticipating his arrival. And eagerly so.
“I participated in a scrumming drill where Kitshoff and Bongi Mbonambi were my opponents. My previous experience involved competing against adolescents. We initiated the scrum… assume position, grip, and upon engagement, he impacted me with such force that I lost my breath, struggling to inhale, experiencing visual distortions. He then rose, eyed me, and uttered, ‘greetings to the senior division’.”
And within the elite competitions, Sadie perseveres. He has participated in 19 matches already this current season, yet he no longer laments the relentless schedule of the French rugby fixture list. He and Niritha have established an admirable existence in the Aquitaine territory. He is leaner, more content, and excelling for a squad that exhibits no indication of ceding their hold on the Champions Cup trophy.
“Previously, I consistently expressed a desire for it to conclude whenever training commenced or the season extended. One grumbles effortlessly, and it is snatched away with equal swiftness. I shall never voice discontent again.”
