Luke Jacobson has opened up on his difficult journey from concussion to take his place back in the All Blacks.
The Chiefs flanker burst onto the international scene in 2019 and was rewarded with a call up for the Rugby World Cup, until delayed concussion robbed the 24-year-old of the chance to take the field.
But Jacobson's used his time away from the game to gain some fresh perspective.
"This time around it just feels a little more rewarding, given what I've been through and what I've had to do to get back here," Jacobson says.
Jacobson first realised his All Black dream in 2019, making his debut against Argentina before being included in Steve Hansen's squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
But that was over before it began sent home early with a delayed concussion. And the road since then has not been easy.
"It was pretty difficult," he says. "With the highs of what came before that, and then obviously that low. It's taught me a lot about resilience mainly, but also just being patient."
During his stint on the sidelines, Jacobson's found time to get away from rugby and focus on the little things in life.
"As much as it does suck, you've just gotta blank it out a little bit, and find your own little hobbies and stuff to do outside of that," he said.
The change in mentality has clearly helped. With regular game time back under his belt at the Chiefs, his form has benefited.
"It's taken him a while to get back in," All Blacks forwards coach John Plumtree says.
"He's had a few setbacks along the way, but he's found some consistency in terms of his game time, and performances for the Chiefs.
"That got me watching him pretty closely."
For Jacobson, the All Blacks dream was never something he gave up on.
"I had a taste of what it was like, and I loved every moment. So it was always in the back of my head, trying to get back in the All Blacks."
And now he's back, he's intent on staying.
