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In an early favourite for feel good story of the year Dragons fullback Cody Ramsey returned to a rugby league field on his birthday after a nightmare 896 days battling chronic bowel disease.
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Code Sports reported Ramsey’s 25th birthday celebrations doubling as his dream to return to the sport after a sideline stint that spanned the best part of three years out of the game.
The 25-year-old took to the field for the St George Illawarra NSW Cup side in their trial against Newtown on Saturday, with former teammates Zac Lomax on hand to watch Ramsey at Henson Park.
It was emotional day for Ramsey and his family after returning to the sport he loves after years of doubt he would ever be able to play again.
“Every day that I sat in hospital, I thought about getting out on that field and today I got the opportunity,” he told the Dragons’ website.
“My whole family’s here. It was very emotional, but I feel like I’m well prepared. I wouldn’t put myself out there if I didn’t think I was in the right position.”
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Ramsey was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel disease, in late 2022 just as his rugby league career was taking off.
The then 22-year-old has scored 14 tries in 36 games for the Dragons since his debut in 2020, before the disease took over his life and halted his promising career.
Ramsey spent the following two years in and out of hospital undergoing extensive surgeries in a fight for his life.
Doctors warned Ramsey that playing rugby league again was unlikely, but the Dragons player proved them wrong with sheer determination to achieve his dream of playing the game he loves again.
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Ramsey shared images of the moment to his Instagram, including a special moment post game with his daughters Ella and Mia.
The brave No.1 revealed former teammate Dragons prop Blake Lawrie got him emotional post match, before his family released a wave of tears from within.
“I walked over to Blocka (Dragons prop Blake Lawrie) first and he got me going a little bit,” Ramsey told Code Sports.
“I was already a little bit emotional walking off, and then as soon as I saw my partner and my little girl on the side of the field, you know, you can’t really contain it.
“I never thought that they’d be able to watch me play a game of football, and today they got the opportunity to.”
Ramsey has been training with the Dragons’ NRL team in the pre-season and played 30 minutes at fullback in Saturday’s trial in a heroic achievement.
However Ramsey isn’t putting too much pressure on himself for an NRL return, but just wants to play a full season of the sport he loves.
“I just want a good year, you know, no hiccups,” he said.
“Just keep playing and then you just keep playing and the rest will come pretty much.
“So, I’ll just keep trying my heart out, hopefully get the footy going and then, you know, see what happens after that.”
