FOR THE SECOND TIME in a week, Felix Jones was a notable figure on the pitch at the University of Limerick as Munster trained yesterday.
The 28-year-old was forced to announce his retirement in October due to a neck injury, but has remained a presence among the Munster group.
Jones was at Munster training again yesterday. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
The former Ireland international is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Sports Psychology at UL with Tadhg MacIntyre, who is a lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology and also acts as the sports psychologist for Anthony Foley’s squad.
Jones has not re-joined the Munster group in any official role, but head coach Foley explained that the Dublin native has linked up with the group again.
“Felix is doing a Master’s with Tadhg MacIntyre, so it’s a good period of time for Felix to be in and around the group if that’s your goal, because there’s a lot of stresses and strains and pressures in that area at the moment,” said Foley in Castletroy Park Hotel yesterday afternoon.
So it’s a good time, he’s a good lad as well in terms of having a voice and he’s still one of the lads to be honest with you. It’s not a role, he’s been in and around the place, it’s part of his research.”
Jones’ retirement remains fresh in the mind for Munster supporters, particularly given their recent run of poor form before last weekend’s bonus-point win over Stade Français in the Champions Cup.
Foley, who joked that there were “a few case studies” at Munster for the ex-fullback’s research, explained that it is as if Jones never left the set-up.
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“It feels like he never left,” said Foley. “You go in there most days and he’s sitting on the computer. He’s still one of us and he’s never gone away.”
Munster have had to move on from the loss of Jones on the pitch, with Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo filling in at fullback.
Jones has remained a presence within the squad. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Having won against Stade last weekend, the province will look to build more momentum away to Treviso on Sunday, before they return their focus to the Pro12 with ambitions of success in the league. Beyond that, planning for next season has already begun.
There has been much focus on Munster retaining players in recent weeks, with Conor Murray and Keith Earls believed to be close to signing on and Foley remaining hopeful that Simon Zebo will stay.
In terms of potential recruits, Foley said bringing in players from overseas remains an option.
We sat down on Christmas Eve and we identified where we needed to go,” said Foley in that regard. “We’ve an idea and they [IRFU] know what we’re after, so we have to go and try and get it.”
Foley insisted that there remains a “good working relationship” between the province and IRFU performance director David Nucifora, even after the disappointing outcome of Munster’s pursuit of Stephen Moore.
“Retention is a priority,” according to Foley, meaning the confirmation of a two-year contract for Mike Sherry and a new three-year deal for James Cronin last week was hugely welcome.
“He’s grown into a big character within the group,” said Foley of Cronin, who was linked with a move to England before re-signing. “I think his actions speak louder than words out on the pitch and he’s turning into a very good loosehead.”
The prop should be fit for Sunday’s Champions Cup meeting with Treviso in Italy after returning to full training in UL yesterday.
Bleyendaal will miss the next three months. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
One man who definitely will not be taking part is Kiwi out-half/centre Tyler Bleyendaal, who has been ruled out for 12 weeks due to his troublesome quad injury.
The entire situation with the 25-year-old – who has started just three times since joining in January of last year – has been one of frustration.
“It’s hard, both physically and mentally, because he’s here to play rugby,” said Foley. “He’s come from the other side of the world and he’s not here to sit on the couch.”
The hope now is that Bleyendaal will be fit before the end of the season.
The injury’s a tendon in his quad and we’ve been investigating it for a period of time,” explained Foley. “The tendon only fires up when you run at or close to 100 per cent or when you kick the ball at full extension, because it’s a tendon than goes from the top of your hip to below your knee – it’s the only one in your body that crosses two joints.
“The only sensation he would feel while he’s running is tightness. Tightness for a player isn’t the worst thing in the world but it kept going at him and it turns out that was the tendon tearing the whole time.
“He could run, he could train, he could kick the ball out of hand. He could do everything, but the one thing that kept catching him was kicking off the tee. It came to a point where we sat down with a couple of specialists and the best advice they could give him was to give him 12 weeks to get it right.”
'He's still one of the lads' - Retired Felix Jones pitches in at Munster
FOR THE SECOND TIME in a week, Felix Jones was a notable figure on the pitch at the University of Limerick as Munster trained yesterday.
The 28-year-old was forced to announce his retirement in October due to a neck injury, but has remained a presence among the Munster group.
The former Ireland international is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Sports Psychology at UL with Tadhg MacIntyre, who is a lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology and also acts as the sports psychologist for Anthony Foley’s squad.
Jones has not re-joined the Munster group in any official role, but head coach Foley explained that the Dublin native has linked up with the group again.
“Felix is doing a Master’s with Tadhg MacIntyre, so it’s a good period of time for Felix to be in and around the group if that’s your goal, because there’s a lot of stresses and strains and pressures in that area at the moment,” said Foley in Castletroy Park Hotel yesterday afternoon.
Jones’ retirement remains fresh in the mind for Munster supporters, particularly given their recent run of poor form before last weekend’s bonus-point win over Stade Français in the Champions Cup.
Foley, who joked that there were “a few case studies” at Munster for the ex-fullback’s research, explained that it is as if Jones never left the set-up.
“It feels like he never left,” said Foley. “You go in there most days and he’s sitting on the computer. He’s still one of us and he’s never gone away.”
Munster have had to move on from the loss of Jones on the pitch, with Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo filling in at fullback.
Having won against Stade last weekend, the province will look to build more momentum away to Treviso on Sunday, before they return their focus to the Pro12 with ambitions of success in the league. Beyond that, planning for next season has already begun.
There has been much focus on Munster retaining players in recent weeks, with Conor Murray and Keith Earls believed to be close to signing on and Foley remaining hopeful that Simon Zebo will stay.
In terms of potential recruits, Foley said bringing in players from overseas remains an option.
Foley insisted that there remains a “good working relationship” between the province and IRFU performance director David Nucifora, even after the disappointing outcome of Munster’s pursuit of Stephen Moore.
“Retention is a priority,” according to Foley, meaning the confirmation of a two-year contract for Mike Sherry and a new three-year deal for James Cronin last week was hugely welcome.
“He’s grown into a big character within the group,” said Foley of Cronin, who was linked with a move to England before re-signing. “I think his actions speak louder than words out on the pitch and he’s turning into a very good loosehead.”
The prop should be fit for Sunday’s Champions Cup meeting with Treviso in Italy after returning to full training in UL yesterday.
One man who definitely will not be taking part is Kiwi out-half/centre Tyler Bleyendaal, who has been ruled out for 12 weeks due to his troublesome quad injury.
The entire situation with the 25-year-old – who has started just three times since joining in January of last year – has been one of frustration.
“It’s hard, both physically and mentally, because he’s here to play rugby,” said Foley. “He’s come from the other side of the world and he’s not here to sit on the couch.”
The hope now is that Bleyendaal will be fit before the end of the season.
“The only sensation he would feel while he’s running is tightness. Tightness for a player isn’t the worst thing in the world but it kept going at him and it turns out that was the tendon tearing the whole time.
“He could run, he could train, he could kick the ball out of hand. He could do everything, but the one thing that kept catching him was kicking off the tee. It came to a point where we sat down with a couple of specialists and the best advice they could give him was to give him 12 weeks to get it right.”
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Felix Jones Leader Munster Pscychology Tyler Bleyendaal