Almost exactly three years ago I wrote a scouting report outlining why young Wigan forward Gareth Hock should be in England’s World Cup squad.

Hock made the squad, but the following season he tested positive for cocaine and was handed a two-year ban.

He is now 27, and this week signed a new five-year Wigan contract, barely a month back in training. That news provoked a mixed response, and some raised eyebrows, among my media peers and fellow fans, but the Warriors have made it clear that the contract is “contingent upon his continuing exemplary performance”.

But how big is the challenge now facing this former international when he returns to Super League next month? It is a challenge not only of convincing his doubters, and opposition-fan hecklers, that he should command respect once more, but of returning to the very summit of this brutal sport.

Hock offloads the ball during Wigan’s Magic Weekend game with St Helens in 209 – photo: Getty

I spoke this week to Ryan Hudson, the Castleford captain, now back at the top of his game after himself serving a two-year drugs ban in 2005.

Hudson was sacked by Bradford without playing a single game of a three-year contract, after he tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.

By contrast, Wigan have stood by Hock during his suspension and Hudson believes the Warriors were right to afford the player another chance.

“Anyone can make a mistake but only a fool makes it twice,” he told me. “It’s not what happens, it is how you react and that comes down to who you are as a person, so only Gaz can control how he responds now.”

One thing for certain is that Hock cannot wait to get back on the field. I’ve spent a couple of games on the back row of the press box at the DW Stadium this season, with him sitting in his suit in the row behind. He was feeling every hit, throwing every pass and applauding every score.

“I’m expecting Hock to make a massive impact when he returns,” said Hudson. “I think he’ll find it tough, tougher than he may expect. It might take him a month to get his match fitness, as no amount of training can prepare you for that.

“He’s returning into a much better Wigan side now with more quality players so that should help.”

How tough will Hock find it though? When you serve a two-year drugs ban, you are not even allowed to train with the squad.

Hock has recently cleared to resume training by UK Anti-Doping, even though his ban doesn’t actually expire until June 23. So how on earth do you keep yourself in the right kind of shape to be able to step back in at the top level as soon as the suspension ends?

“Training to return after my ban was like training for the Olympics,” said Hudson, who describes his ban as the toughest two years of his life.

“It is such a long time. Every month is a goal, and you keep setting yourself new goals as when you are playing Super League the goal is just the end of the week.

“I found the game had moved on a little while I served my two-year ban, but it’s like life – life moves on and if you have to take two years out of life for one reason or another then it is very different when you start living your life again.”

Hock’s mental approach to his suspension saw him tackle a drugs rehabilitation programme, while his physical approach has been helped by a personal trainer.

But Hudson believes such an exile from the game changes you not just as a player, but as a person.

“I learned that as a rugby league player you live your life in a bubble and you shouldn’t really moan about working 10 or 20 hours a week. In the real world people have to run businesses and work 60 or 70 hours a week to get by so we are very lucky,” he said.

“Life is about getting a balance and a perspective. I hope Gaz has learned from what he did and can move on.

“I learned that there is more to rugby league. I believe things happen for a reason and you deal with it and move on.”

Hudson is living proof that a player can bounce back after serving a ban, leading the Tigers’ charge at the right end of Super League. But will Hock be treated differently by his peers when the England international returns to the game as a player known to have used drugs?

My good friend Jamie Bloem, a former South Africa international, served a drugs ban – in fact, Bloemy was the first rugby league player to test positive for performance enhancing anabolic steroid nandrolone. It was never quite the same for him when he returned, but Hudson says Hock will be fine.

“None of the players treated me differently on my return but the fans did and you’d expect that,” he says. “You get the usual grief from opposition supporters but you don’t dwell on it as to live in the past is to stay in the past.”

Whether he gets a rough ride or not, Hock returns with a point to prove and an England shirt to win back and Hudson reckons he’ll do both.

“Hock will be in the England squad at the end of the year, I’m sure of that. He was a quality player before and that won’t have changed. I’d be very surprised if he didn’t make it.

“He will come back fresh and be ready to explode after two years without training. He’ll feel awesome and ready to rip in. He’ll be great for England and good on him.”

My personal view is the same as Hudson’s. Everyone deserves a second chance and Hock is no different. He made a mistake and should be afforded the opportunity to prove it was just that.

Gareth Bale

Bale at Tottenham training in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Gareth Frank Bale[1]
Date of birth	16 July 1989 (age 21)
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position	Defender/Winger
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2006	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2007	Southampton	40	(5)
2007–	Tottenham Hotspur	77	(12)
National team‡
2005–2006	Wales U17	4	(1)
2006	Wales U19	1	(0)
2006–2008	Wales U21	13	(3)
2006–	Wales	27	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:23, 10 May 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 February 2011

Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. Bale began his professional career with Championship side Southampton in 2005 and was transferred to Tottenham two years later.

 Early life

Bale was born in Cardiff to parents Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie, an operations manager; he attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike. It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at nine years old, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club. Growing up his football hero was fellow Welshman and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.

Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff. This is where, as well as football, he played rugby and hockey and was a distance runner. As a 14 year old he ran the 100 metre sprint in 11.4 seconds. Because of his superior skills, the school’s PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules. These restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot. Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton’s satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.

Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school’s under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school, he was awarded the PE department’s prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:

“Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate.”

CLUB CAREER

 Southampton

On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints’ 2-0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2

He scored again, at St. Mary’s, against Coventry City in the team’s second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.By 16 December 2006, Bale’s goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland and free-kicks away to Hull and at home to Norwich City.

In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year, and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007. This capped what was described in the local press as an “incredible” first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints’ “most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed.”

His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg. In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.

 Tottenham Hotspur

On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs paying an initial £5 million for Bale, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success. However, Tottenham paid Southampton an early settlement payment of £2 million in 2008 to reduce the final fee to £7 million and allow the Saints the immediate cash that they desperately needed.

 2007-08

He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick’s Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane‘s flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi. Bale went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post. He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,^[23] making it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old. He also set up Spurs’ goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.

Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs’ sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury.

 2008-09

He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008. Bale was given the number 3 shirt for the 2008-09 season, which left previous number 3 Lee Young-Pyo without a squad number. After some poor performances, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.

 2009-10

After playing a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side, Bale’s first ever involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.

In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season. On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs’ 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs’ FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough. He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010. His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper. Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham’s second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and was named Man of the Match. He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April. He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the Champions League qualification place.

 2010-11

On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal. On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane. Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW. On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Internazionale at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter’s Jonathan Biabiany. In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.

On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently-signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs. On 19 March 2011, Tottenham announced Bale had extended his stay at the club until 2015.

On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers. In doing so, he became the only fourth Welsh player to win the PFA Player of the Year award (the others are Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs).

 Style of play

On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, “Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world — he killed him.”

In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said: “Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that’s what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.”

 International career

Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season and made his international debut on 27 May 2006. He first appeared as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales. Bale, who was just 16 years and 315 days, assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw.

Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to Ryan Giggs. On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trademark free kick. He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007.

Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2007 that:

“It is an honour to play for Wales… Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent.”

After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. On 14 October, he played a part in Wales’ final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey‘s first at senior level.

In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.

 2012 London Olympics

Bale, who meets the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said he would “love to play in the Olympics” for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the Welsh FA.^[55]

International goals

Scores and results list. Wales’ goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 October 2006	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Slovakia	1 – 2	1 – 5	Euro 2008 qualifying
2.	28 March 2007	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	San Marino	2 – 0	3 – 0	Euro 2008 qualifying
3.	12 October 2010	St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland	Switzerland	1 – 1	1 – 4	Euro 2012 qualifying