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.”
Plays the nice guy card but we can see through him, arrogant man, no time for him after the barney episode….. No need for it
W@anker!!!
Exactly played the I’m so genuinely sorry card after his petulant display after Match V Barney just so crowd wouldn’t be on his back & I might retire Sh*te, conniving piece of shit.
True
Did you have time for him after this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Had a chuckle at the spectators singin “stand up if you love the darts”. They’re at the world final…I’m pretty sure it’s a given that they love darts! And was one of the Ladbrokes tarts yer wan from Tallafornia?
Say what you like about him but what a player!
Don’t forget that begrudgery is the Irish national pastime ;-)
Very true god forbid i might win the lotto
If Taylor was Irish everyone would be saying it was passion or the heat of the moment or the fighting Irish get over yourselves
Agree, super darts player….
Heard he was lobbying for darts to be an olympic sport….
Some athlete!!!
great player but a rude wnaker … no need for it especially after winning …
This lad is the greatest athlete the world has ever seen. He’s in the gym 7 days a week working harder than everyone else and it showed tonight. Phenomenal physical specimen.
7 hours a day. 7 days a week. He may not be putting those hours in in the gym but it’s still incredible commitment and dedication…
Incredible demonstration of determination – He looked dead and buried at 2-0 and 4-2…
What an amazing match and hats of to phil what a champion and what an athelete to keep performing at the highest level at 52 …….ultimate sports man…….and MVG is some player ………
Ultimate sportsman? I’d hardly call his behaviour the other night with Barney sports manly. Arrogant sack of sh1t would be more fitting.
Gamma I guess rugby players trying to gouge out eyes, footballers diving, tennis players breaking their rackets and throwing their toys out of the pram to name a few are perfect sportsmen. Up there on stage under the lights and the heat there is nowhere to hide so he got a bit hot and bothered under the pressure of a semi final for which he apologised for. I don’t see what you and a lot of people are getting so worked up about you must all run perfect lives and never get annoyed with other people so fair play to you and all the other Taylor detractors
Tony rugby teams provide each other with a guard of honour after the game, tennis players shake hands after a match. Frustration is part of every game but the point I made is that his actions were not the actions of an “ultimate sportsman” while were on it, breaking a tennis racket earns a fine, diving in football earns a yellow card and eye gouging in rugby gets you sin binned. What was Taylor’s punishment?
Gamma in response Taylor’s punishment is everyone jumping on him for one human error, for which he said sorry for. Then if you see the footage he shakes hands then I pulled back while walking away that’s when he aired his annoyance then Barney gave him a sly little shove in the back as he was walking back towards the board. That’s when Taylor got really annoyed he has said sorry however Barney has not done so in public yet so IMO opinion Taylor has done nothing wrong to be punished for so get off your moral high horse and enjoy watching the best darts player you are ever likely to see
I met the bloke once in a hotel in london.One of my mates asked him for a foto. No bother!!…He chatted with us for about twenty mins and then was on his way. He is one sound bloke and He is also the greatest dart player ever.Good luck to him.
About 5 or 6 years ago he was doing autographs in Lifestyle Sports just off of O’Connell St. It was supposed to be a kind of thing where you buy a Taylor-endorsed dartboard and get an autograph. Anyway, I already had the dartboard at home but one of the people working there wouldn’t let me get an autograph. Phil told her it was alright and let me through. I thought he was a great fella, but his antics with Van Barneveld make me question that.
My comment about Taylors past has been deleted despite him being found guilty in court
Why, what was his past? Twitter me if u can
About him beating up females?
Just looked it up, that’s mad, never even heard that b4… The power phil Taylor eh, lol
I won’t post it as it was deleted when I mentioned earlier, check his wiki page and that will lead you to reports from BBC, Daily Mail etc…..
Or maybe he just had a fondle with them!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Not many people do know about it, conveniently glossed over by the sporting media
Grrrrrrr hate Taylor!
Such a boring game in general !
Why wud u read an article about it then u idiot?
He felt Barney pulled him about after taking his time to shake hands. Heat of the moment stuff! But like Cody and Cunningham at the end of the All Ireland.
Hate the man he rewrote the book on dirty tricks from bristow while keeping the crowd on his side. Would never cheer for the man but I tip my hat to his talents
He is the best dart player of his generation .. And still can turn it on at 52 …. Ya the barney thing was wrong, but everyone has slip ups. Tell me 1 world champion that’s not cocky and confident !!!!!
Silly game for drunk men.
I love darts, but this old sketch always reminds me of Taylor (not a nice man):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHnBppccI0o
Still the best darts player ever.
A fitting tribune to Sid Waddell naming the trophy after him. One of the most comical yet genuine commentators ever and one that really brought darts to the mainstream audience.
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in ,with a portion of chips….. you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them”
RIP Sid
Agreed. Sids commentary is what breathed new life in to a dying sport, I tuned in just for him. Now darts are more popular than ever while its snooker that’s on the way out.
Horrible arrogant man. Greats darts player, horrible human being.
Brilliant dart player and so talented. To become the best he did everything that was asked of him including diets gym work and practice, practice and then some more practice. I admire him as we will never see another champion like him. I don’t judge him on his personal life as I don’t know him but not too many sportsmen or women have managed to keep their position over such a long period. Congrats Phil.
Even though he is an arrogant man you have to admire him for his success.
no class
he only goes tere for the vending machine
Great fight by Phil. Hes a genius. but MVG will learn from this and will get better and better. I’ll say he will equal Phil’s records in 15 to 20 years. MVG=Machine
If it wasn’t for Taylor, darts would still be in the dark ages like the bbc. He made darts the sport it is and continues to dominate and because of that others are getting better and better like MVG and Lewis… Fair play phil, still the greatest
Great talent and is cocky but after 16 world champs wins I think your entitled to puff out your chest a little. He is no angel but neither is anyone
he is either a good actor or a good guy. every press conference I’ve seen him in I’ve warned to him. lady night’s victory was his 90th over all title (or something like that) I do agree darts players need a bit of fitness in their routene… but, Taylor is one of the worlds best and most decorated sports personalities ever!
jammy gig was fined 2grand for trying to sort a 3some in his caravan…. stay classy Phil!
His public persona is an act, don’t fall for it buddy
Not denying he is a super dart player
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1306433.stm
This is the ling to the report of the incident on the BBC news website . He’s not as squeaky clean as he would like us to believe. Personally I think he’s a bit too sweet to be wholesome. But he is some darts player and always great to watch.
I agree with Barry, MVG is one to watch for the future.
* link!