DAVE Kilcoyneâs return to international rugby for Irelandâs Six Nations victory over Wales after a near year-long absence through injury is quite remarkable.
Around this time 12 months ago, he sustained a serious neck injury that required two spinal discs to be shaved.
âIt was the worst injury Iâve ever had. I lost power down my hand by getting those discs shaved and it was unnerving at times, wondering would the power ever come back,” he told reporters earlier this week.
“It was a couple of months with the great strength and conditioning and rehabs coaches down in Munster and it just wasnât coming and wasnât coming, then all of a sudden it came.
âOnce I saw a bit of light I went with it and built myself back up and worked away to try get back in. So Iâm feeling very fortunate to be in here. The saying, you donât know what you have until itâs gone, that really resonates with me now.
Added the 34-year-old: âYouâre out of the environment through injury or selection or whatever, then when you get the second crack at it to get back in, you want to take it with both hands and make sure youâre in here as long as you can be.â
Kilcoyne, nicknamed âKiller,â is in line to win his 50th cap against France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.Â