Wasps flanker advised to retire 17 months on from horror judo injury - reports
Wasps flanker Sam Jones has been advised to retire from rugby a year and a half on from a horror judo accident picked up during an England training camp.
Sam Jones broke his leg, his ankle and a joint within his ankle when Maro Itoje fell on him during a judo exercise in late 2016 and has now been advised to retire, reports the Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler.
Earlier this year Dai Young outlined the horrific nature of the injury, saying it was three breaks in one.
“He broke his leg, his ankle, his syndesmosis (a joint between the tibia and fibula at the ankle) and ripped all the ligaments in his ankle. It was horrendous.”
The freak accident came before the promising loose forward even had a chance to win an England camp. He did return to light training at the beginning of this season but has since not been able to recover and it is understood a specialist has recommended that he retire from the game.
Jones had a decorated career as a rugby player at Wasps.
Born in Aylesbury, Jones started playing rugby at Aylesbury Grammar School and Aylesbury RFC, aged 11. He rose through the ranks of the Wasps Academy system to make his Wasps senior debut in November 2010 against Newport Gwent Dragons, having featured many times for the Wasps ‘A’ team.
Having represented England at U16 and U18 levels, Sam was a key member of the England U20 side that reached the final of the 2011 Junior World Cup.
As a young developing back-rower Sam was exposed to significant first team action during the 2011/12 season following a number of injuries and despite the difficult circumstances, the youngster shone across the back row.
By 2012/13 he was also selected for the Barbarians squad as one of the two uncapped players alongside fellow Wasps teammate Elliot Daly, topping off a great season from the youngster. Sam continued to progress in 2013/14 he made 26 appearances for the club and scored a try against Newcastle Falcons.
The 25-year-old continued to rack-up the appearances in the 2014/15 season, with another 14 and reached a landmark 100 Wasps appearances in 2015/16. His 20 appearances in a Wasps shirt that season were enough to see him selected in the England Saxons squad that toured South Africa that summer. Good form at the start of the 2016/17 season saw Jones named in the England EPS squad, where he picked what now looks like a career ending victory.
According to Wasps.co.uk, away from rugby, Sam completed his full-time degree in English at King’s College London in July 2014 and he now writes his own food blog.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
235 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to comments