THE INJURY WHICH forced Felix Jones to cut his burgeoning career short could have been prevented if World Rugby had changed its laws to reflect the game’s evolution, according to a man who worked closely with the Irish international.
The 28-year-old Munster back retired from rugby last month on medical advice after sustaining a neck injury during a Pro12 fixture against Glasgow Warriors at the start of the season.
He joined a growing number of young Irish players, including Stephen Ferris, Kevin McLaughlin and Eoin O’Malley, forced to prematurely end their career because of injury.
And Munster’s underage Strength and Conditioning coach Fergal O’Callaghan believes more can be done to protect players.
“I’m not one for the laws of the game but the wrapping of the ball style encourages the meeting of heads and shoulders,” O’Callaghan told The42. “With that style of tackling, one player is high and the other is low. It’s inviting trouble.
“World Rugby have to look at the laws so they adequately suit the game being currently played. The game has evolved and the laws don’t reflect that. When I grew up players always tackled around the waist but it’s all about the choke now.
“I’m not saying Felix was a bad tackler but maybe if he had made that tackle a different way, as in lower, he might not have injured himself. It’s ifs and buts but we can reduce that chance.”
O’Callaghan has worked with Munster for 17 years and was appointed the province’s first full-time Strength and Conditioning coach by Declan Kidney in 1999.
His role with the senior squad has seen him work with some of Ireland’s finest players of the modern era and his work off the pitch has been central to Munster’s success.
He’s now tasked with educating and enlightening the next generation and more than ever, the importance of strength and conditioning cannot be underestimated.
“People have this perception that the role of strength and conditioning is to make people bigger and bigger all the time,” O’Callaghan continued. “First and foremost, strength and conditioning is injury prevention.
“If guys aren’t strong enough to cope with the demands of the game then they’re going to get hurt. If a kid can’t jump in the air and catch a ball without his knee buckling from underneath him because his legs aren’t strong enough then it’s my responsibility to ensure he is.
“Unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the modern game.”
When news spread of Jones’ retirement, team-mates and fellow professionals were quick to pay tribute to ‘one of the nicest guys in the game.’
And O’Callaghan admits it was a massive blow to everyone in Munster rugby.
“I feel so sorry for Felix,” he added. “I was up in my parents house at lunch earlier and the November picture for the Munster calendar is Felix Jones and I just looked at it and thought ‘oh god, poor Felix.
“He was such a super player. I was always amazed with Felix and I hope none of the other players would take offence.
“Felix came from the Leinster academy and they didn’t really want him. He came down to us and I would say he was the player who showed the most interest in what’s happening with Munster underage rugby than anyone else.
“He’s been fantastic and I feel so sorry for him because everyone knows Felix gave 100% to everything he did on and off the field. He put his body on the line.
“I’ve sent him a couple of messages but hopefully I’ll catch up with him properly before Christmas. He was a really good guy.
“I’m confident he will make a super coach just from the way he talks about rugby but I honestly don’t know if that’s on his mind.
“I can only imagine what he’s going through but it’s a reminder of the importance of injury prevention. We want players to be big and strong not because they can smash an opponent but to prevent injuries.
“Felix was very unlucky but it’s my role to ensure other players don’t suffer the same experience.”
