Exectly a year before Warriors’ meeting with Newport Gwent Dragons, the Sixways media office issued a press release that, looking back, was as inevitable as it was saddening.
“Ben Hinshelwood has announced his retirement from professional rugby due to a long-standing back condition,” it read.
Two months before, the 28-year-old centre had revealed he was taking a break from international rugby for the same reason. But, after seeking further medical advice, he reluctantly called time on his playing career completely.
His last appearance in a Warriors shirt had come against Northampton, six days before news broke of decision, when he warmed the bench in a 21-22 victory. He wasn’t required to show his silky, elusive running skills. The last time Worcester fans had enjoyed that pleasure was on November 11, in the 24-13 defeat at Sale.
He admits he doesn’t remember his last try, beyond the fact that it was against Leicester in the Powergen Cup, and that he was playing 13. For the record, it came a month before he quit. He collected Kai Horstmann’s pass in midfield, stepped on the gas and made a solo break. A typical Hinshelwood moment.
By then, though, the injury was governing almost every working hour.
“I’d had a problem with two discs for about 18 months,” he explains. “There were times when it was all right, but after every game I was suffering. In the end, I couldn’t train like the other guys, and it was affecting me in games as well.”
He took a break from his 19-cap Scotland career first, hoping it would make the difference. But it didn’t work out.
“I saw a specialist and he told me that it was permanent damage. If I didn’t stop playing, it would do even more harm. It was just frustrating not to be able to play to your potential. I also had to think about my future. I had a lot of years left and I didn’t want to do too much damage. In the end, it was a decision that kind of made itself.”
The good news is that, a year on, the rest has been beneficial. The back still gives him some grief, but nothing like it did. He’s picked up his pre-Warriors career at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, in London, and his golf clubs too.
“I enjoy it a lot and it’s something I’ve taken up again. I don’t know that I’d have ever had a choice between golf and rugby for a career, but I did get down to a handicap of three at one stage.” For anyone who remembers the smoothe, God-given shift of weight from one foot to another, that won’t come as a surprise.
The biggest joy, however, came when wife Kate gave birth to Oliver at the end of October. The tot has been busy introducing his dad to the things babies do best.
With two generations of the Hinshelwood already Scotland internationals – father Sandy played for his country too – just how proud would he be if his own son followed suit?
“I’d be very proud,” he laughs. “There’d be certain sports I’d be happy for him to play, and rugby’s definitely one of them.”
If he does, he’ll have a way to go to matching dad’s memories from the rugby pitch. He made his Scotland debut against Canada in 2002, and his final appearance when he came off the bench in the appointment with Italy in the 2005 Six Nations tournament. Despite starring in the World Cup quarter-final against Australia, he picks out the defeat of South Africa in 2002 as the highlight of his international career.
And his time at Sixways? That’s easy.
“Winning promotion from the first division, that was great,” he recalls. “The other massive highlight was staying up the following year and the last game against Saints. We had to win to ensure we stayed up. It was awesome!”