“I got a bit of a fright alright. I found out I dislocated a vertebrae in my neck. The first few days were nervous enough. I can remember it all pretty clearly. I was trying to fend away a player and at the last second I spotted Johnny O Connor. It was instinct really to drop my head and try and get as low as possible, but I just went straight into his chest. I went down and heard a big crunch. I actually tried to stand up, which might have been a little stupid, but then the physios arrived and told me to lie down. I always had feeling in my limbs and stuff, so I was fine in that sense. I was on my back for a few days and I was in the brace then for six weeks”.
The number 15 is fast becoming a fans favourite, as his unique running style and ability to find a gap in any defence is something to behold. With such an energy for the game, the time off due to injury was tough to take for the former under 20 grand slam winner.
“I wasn’t able to do anything really. I was doing a little bit of bodyweight work. It was beyond repetitive and boring to be honest. The first bit of contact I did was this season. It was all gradual really. Injury is part of the game really. Everyone has to be prepared to work through it. I was lucky in one way that there were other lads out injured too, (not lucky for them of course). Fellas like Barry Murphy and Denis Leamy were a great help to me. We were able to talk to each other and that helped with the frustration. It was tough. Watching the games was the hardest. Wanting to be involved and not being able to, was tough. Again, those other lads were a help about getting over it. I tried to stay involved with things where I could. I tried to help with water etc, when the lads were training. You have to keep busy really”.
One would think, that a severe neck injury would hold you back. Not with Felix. Jones’ team mate Johne Murphy maintains that Felix has “absolutely no regard for his body. He flies into everything and gives 100%. He is amazing in that way”.
With passion for the game evident in every word uttered by the returning full back, the 2010/11 season could just be the season that Mr Jones hits the big time. As usual though, the back has his feet on the ground.