FRONT row Rob O’Donnell has revealed how the tragic loss of his father to cancer last summer has fuelled his ambition to become a success at Sixways.
Just days after the 28-year-old turned out for Worcester Warriors against his former club Rotherham Titans in pre-season, the Liverpudlian’s life changed.
His father Terry, who had been a devoted follower of his son’s promising rugby career, passed away aged 62, following a two-year battle with bowel cancer.
After having a tumour removed in September 2012 O’Donnell thought his dad was beginning to return to full health, but as last season drew to a close his family received the news they had been dreading.
“In April last year we found out that the cancer was back and it was terminal,” he said. “It was a tough summer as I was training here, but I was going back to Liverpool as much as I could when things started deteriorating.
“Ever since I was young I was always told that my dad didn’t have the best of upbringings, so he has made a big effort to make sure our family was as tight as possible, which was exactly what we were, and now my dad is no longer there we have become even closer.”
O’Donnell, who has gone from playing in the National Leagues with Waterloo to featuring regularly in the top flight with Warriors, said his father’s passing has also change his perspective on the field as he looks to battle it out with Euan Murray and Jon Andress for the number three jersey.
“In some ways it has made me want to live life to the fullest and go out there and do everything I can,” O’Donnell added.
”When I play rugby I write my dad’s initials on my wrist strapping so during the game I’ll have a look down occasionally as it helps to get me back in the zone and I realise what I am out there playing for as he was always one of my biggest fans and he wanted me to do as well as I could.
“I definitely feel I am getting better and better and becoming more like a Premiership player, so moving forward I just hope I can keep improving and keep my starting place.”