Reece Hodge, a 32-year-old Australian rugby player, has spent more than two years dealing with injuries and is currently without a club. Despite this, he remains focused on the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted in Australia. Hodge has played only 394 minutes in three seasons with the French club Bayonne, a stark contrast to his earlier career. Now free to pursue new opportunities since June, he continues his recovery and training in the Basque region, where he lives near the Atlantic coast. Hodge's time with Bayonne can be summarized in a single number: seven club matches in three years. He joined the team at the end of 2023 from the Melbourne Rebels, bringing a versatile skill set that allows him to play multiple positions in the backline. However, a series of injuries—including a foot problem, a hip injury, and finally a knee issue—has significantly limited his playing time. According to Hodge himself, these injuries have kept him out of action for over two years. Although his contract with Bayonne has ended, Hodge has not left the Basque region. He continues to train in a local gym and receives treatment from a physiotherapist in Bordeaux, a two-hour drive away. He is currently seeking a new club and remains optimistic about his future. "I'm still not at 100%, but it's nice to finally be going in the right direction," he said in an interview with rugby.com.au. Despite the challenges, Hodge maintains a positive outlook. He admits that the mental strain of being injured for so long was difficult, but he quickly shifts the focus to the positives. "Even though I have been injured for more than two years, I was paid for most of this period to be a professional rugby player. You can never describe as a nightmare doing what you love every day." With 63 caps for the Wallabies, he remains hopeful about his chances of being selected for the 2027 World Cup. "I have never closed the door on the Wallabies. It would be foolish to do so as long as you still play rugby," he says. However, he acknowledges that his chances are currently slim and that his priority is to play again before considering international opportunities. In the meantime, Hodge is closely following the progress of the Australian team. On Sunday, the Wallabies will host South Africa, the reigning world champions, in Perth. The team, now led by coach Michael Kiss, has remained unbeaten after four matches, including victories over Japan and a win and a draw in Argentina. Hodge believes this upcoming match against South Africa will be another step forward for the team. He also notes that Herschel Jantjies, a former teammate at Bayonne, will be starting for the Springboks. Although they never played together due to Hodge's injuries, he acknowledges Jantjies as a threat around the rucks and sends him a friendly warning: "I hope he has a good match this weekend, but not too good."