JULIAN HUXLEY remains hopeful of making a shock return to the playing field for the Brumbies next season.
The former Wallaby had surgery to remove a brain tumour, which was only discovered after he was knocked out during a Super 14 match in March.
While it appeared that would be the 29-year-old's last professional match, Huxley has been training with his ACT teammates in the hope medicos give him the all-clear to reconsider retirement.
Huxley will have some involvement with the Super 14 franchise as its new kicking/skills coach, but has his heart set on wearing the blue and white again.
"I reckon I would be pretty overwhelmed to run back on the park," Huxley told The Sun-Herald."There's a long way to go before then. If I could get back to where I was, that would mean the world to me, but that's a big challenge.
"I don't want to come back if I'm not going to be as good as I was."
Huxley has started scouring the internet to find whether other athletes had made successful comebacks to contact sports after brain tumour surgery.
"A few boxers have, a gridiron player did it. None of them had tumours; they had cysts or something removed," he said.
"I've only done some brief research but I've got the rest of the year to do it, to ask other doctors. Obviously, there will be insurance issues and doctors to convince as well.
"I'm training to get back to where I was but I'm a fair way from it.
"Eventually, by February next year, I'll be in the shape I was when I was playing last year and this year.
"[Training is] not such a big deal for me. I've had a pretty active lifestyle for a long time now, you miss it and start to feel like a bit of a slob."
Huxley stressed that he wouldn't enter into any decision lightly.
"It's not like I'm having a knee reconstruction and I'm putting a time protocol on it," he said. "It's not like tons of other blokes have done it.
"My dad gave me the best advice: 'Take it as it comes and when you know, you'll know'.
"I haven't completely put it to bed. I'll certainly not put any timeframe on it at the moment, considering I haven't done all my due diligence."
Due diligence will include an appointment with an oncologist on Wednesday, with more chemotherapy likely to be part of his recovery.
But while the setbacks appear to be a cruel blow for a Wallabies star at the peak of his powers, Huxley described them as a blessing.
"Absolutely. It's funny, the further I get down the track with this, the luckier I feel," he said.
"In terms of what the ordeal has given me, I have a different approach to life.
"It's a bit of a blessing actually that it all happened; I feel I'm a better person now.
"I'm more relaxed, I've got more compassion towards people.
"You meet a ton of people, particularly those who have gone through similar things, and you have an instant connection.
"That's a privilege, to meet people like that and have some really nice relationships.
"There's almost a family bond."
Huxley admitted it was difficult watching the Wallabies take part in the Tri Nations, knowing he would have been a part of the squad had he been fit.
"Through the Super 14, I found it tough to watch," he said.
"Initially, the first couple of Tests [was tough], but I'm getting better."
Even if he doesn't play again, Huxley is thankful for the opportunity to remain involved in rugby.
"I've said to the Brumbies I'm happy to help out in any way, however I can be of any benefit," he said.
"I was speaking to Friendy [Brumbies coach Andy Friend] the other day and I might end up a bit of a skills coach. I'll enjoy the time working with a lot of the young guys here at the Brumbies. We've got a great group of young guys, so already they have been great to work with."
