‘It can be a catalyst for more’: Rob Horne on ‘the life unplanned’

The Invictus Games holds special meaning for Rob Horne but not for the reason you think.

The 34-Test Wallaby is six months into his new life after a tackle in the English Premiership severed the nerves in his right shoulder from his spine and left him permanently paralysed in that arm.

The Games is an opportunity for him to connect with a host of people over their "shared experience" of life-changing injury. But it also gives him a chance to reflect on his father's time in the Vietnam War.

"My dad served in Vietnam and was wounded there so I have a good insight there into whats involved," Horne said. "Thats his story to tell and he hasnt told it yet. That's that generation I suppose, they are very busy people, they lead busy lives and get on with it."

Anyone who had anything to do with Rob Horne over his decade-long professional rugby career in Australia knows the hard-running centre excelled at 'getting on with it'. As a player he defined himself through action. As a teammate his loyalty and devotion inspired the same in others.

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It's those traits that help explain why 40,000 English Premiership fans turned up at Twickenham Stadium last month for his Testimonial match. Horne was only with Northampton for a season but the Aussie blow-in made a deep and lasting impression.

Now he's brought his family home and is forging a path beyond rugby with the same "get on with it" attitude he's observed in his father and himself, joking that at times he's been "a bit too well-equipped" in that department.

"The nature of my injury is such that Ive been aware from the very beginning that the prognosis was paralysis without hope of recovery on that," he said.

"Because I have done the highest level of damage to this area, Ive known from the start and so there hasnt been any false hope. Ive had time to process and accept it and thats been a real positive for me. To be able to get on with it."

This week Horne, 29, linked up with England dual international and Land Rover Ambassador Jason Robinson to coach a wheelchair rugby exhibition match between former Wallabies and an Invictus side at the Games in Sydney on Thursday night.

Aside from a glorious opportunity to turn the tables on one-time senior Waratahs including Phil Waugh, Dean Mumm and Stephen Hoiles – "Ive copped a few Phil Waugh sprays in the change room before so I wont miss the opportunity to give a few back" – Horne is soaking up the time with people who know what he is dealing with on the injury front.

"Ive never been to war so Ive got a massive amount of respect for these guys and I've got a bit of an insight now, living with paralysis," he said.

"Meeting people, having that exposure to people that have gone through diferent hardships and having a shared experience of life-changing events and injuries, has really helped me. Thats what the whole concept of Invictus does. It gets guys to come together, to compete and connect. Sport is a social event, it brings people together and thats what we love about it."

Martin Hewitt calls it "the life unplanned". Hewitt is a former British Parachute Regiment Officer left partially paralysed from a combat injury in Afghanistan who is now leading a team in pursuit of the first modified Explorer's Grand Slam – the rare feat of climbing the highest mountain on each continent and reaching the North and South Pole.

Horne was introduced to Hewitt soon after his injury in April and considers it a transformative moment.

"Meeting someone whos 10 years down the recovery path and seeing what hes made of his life and that he's achieving things that people who havent suffered these types of injuries can only dream of, that was a real breakthrough for me. Totally inspiring," he said. "It shows that this doesnt stop you, it can be a catalyst for more. That was the biggest thing."

There is still uncertainty. Horne, now a husband and father of two small children, admits he isn't sure what involvement he will have in rugby in the future. He loves the game but needs time to find the right space in which he can give back.

"I owe a lot to the game, the man I am today is because I was shaped by the people I was exposed to and played with. When you come into an environment as an 18-year-old and you're surrounded by grown men, you learn from them, you learn a lot of life skills and values. Those skills and traits have served me well," he said.

"Its been the nature of a life-changing injury, theres plenty of challenges but I like to think Im making the most of my circumstances and Im meeting some incredible people along this journey Id never have exposure to if not for this."

"Im not sure what life has in store for me but Im pretty determined to make the most of it, whatever that may be."

Jaguar Land Rover is the presenting partner of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 – and has supported the Games since they were founded by HRH Prince Harry in 2014.

Georgina Robinson is a Sports Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald