‘I’ve learned my lesson over keeping quiet on concussion’
ASHTON Hewitt has given a frank insight into the effects of concussion after revealing he attempted to make light of it in his desperation to play for Wales in last season’s Six Nations Championship.
The flying winger took a blow to the head during the Dragons’ 10-0 Guinness PRO12 defeat to the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day, 2017.
But he finished the match and was named in the Wales squad for the Six Nations, only to end up missing the rest of the season because of the lingering symptoms of concussion.
Hewitt spoke of what he went through at a Dragons press conference ahead of the Christmas rugby derbies.
Reflecting on what happened 12 months ago, he said: “I had a bit of a head knock and didn’t think anything of it. I probably didn’t tell the people I should have about it.
“With it being such an important time of the season I didn’t want anything to hold me back.
“I was in that period where I thought I would be OK and keeping my mouth shut was the right move. I have learned my lesson from that.”
Hewitt teamed up briefly with Wales for the Six Nations as they hoped he would recover, but he wasn’t to take part in the tournament. Welsh rugby has a strict policy on concussion.
“Wales had been made aware I had a head injury,” he said. “They named me in the squad. I was there three weeks before they released me. I didn’t do a great deal while I was there.”
Asked to describe the effects of concussion, the 23-year-old said: “You don’t know what it’s like until you get it.
“It’s quite frightening, the effect it does have when it gets to the bad stage. It’s quite hard to explain the actual symptoms.
“You don’t feel yourself. It felt like I was drained of energy and didn’t really want to do anything.
“Other people said I wasn’t myself. It does really start to bring you down. Those were the main things.
“Rather than complete and absolute rest there are motivators they try and get you to do.
“You have been selected (in Wales squad), but at times you would have rather not been there, especially as it was my first involvement. I went there and didn’t make any contribution.
“It was hard, not knowing when I would be back and missing my opportunity with Wales. But that’s the type of game we are in.
“Unfortunately, I had that head injury, which held me back, but it was better to be sensible. Wales will come hopefully.
“They’ve obviously given exposure to Steff Evans – he earned his spot in the squad. That gives wings like me the confidence we can get a chance.
“I will make sure I’m in the best shape if the call comes, These derbies are the games the Wales coaches will be watching closely.
“First and foremost in 2018 I want to stay fit and be involved in the Six Nations. Staying fit is probably key. I would love to get a Wales call.
“It’s been great to see the boys from the Dragons doing so well for Wales. That’s one of the aims of the club, to get people in the squad.
“I just want to do a job for the Dragons and, if that goes the right way as I plan, something else will happen. Hopefully, things will be easier this year.”
Ironically, it’s the Ospreys who the Dragons face in Newport on New Year’s Eve, but there’s one certainty, the state of the art pitch laid for this season means conditions should be a world away from last term’s encounter on a Newport swamp.
“The new pitch makes a great difference and we are able to play a lot more expansive rugby,” went on Hewitt.
Although the Dragons went down 22-17 to neighbours Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day in the PRO14, he’s upbeat about taking on fellow championship strugglers Ospreys.
“Everyone is in the right state of mind. These are massive games with everyone watching – no-one wants to mess up,” beamed Hewitt.
“It’s nice to have a run of home games, get the fans through the gates and encourage them to come back. It should be a cracker.”
The loss to the Blues was the Dragons’ 18th in a row in Welsh derbies in the tournament, the appalling run stretching back to 2014, and they’re revved up to halt it.
The Dragons are likely to be without Wales back Hallam Amos, who limped off in the closing stages on Boxing Day with a damaged right ankle, with Carl Meyer in line to return from injury.
And they could still be without Wales prop Leon Brown because of the concussion the tighthead suffered against New Zealand last month, meaning new signing Nicky Thomas or Lloyd Fairbrother is likely to start.