Stop moaning and enjoy game says heroic Ed
Neale Harvey meets a former player who is defying the medics after a cruel accident
Former Dragons No.8 Ed Jackson has urged young rugby players to enjoy their lives to the full after revealing the extent of his miraculous recovery from the spinal injuries he suffered during a freak swimming accident last April.
Jackson, 28, appeared set for life in a wheelchair after mistakenly diving into the shallow end of a friend’s pool, but just six months later he is walking and driving again and looking forward to taking on some major challenges in aid of the charities that have supported him throughout a traumatic period. Jackson told
“I’m back on my feet and started driving again last week, but I had no idea what would happen at the start.
“I’ve actually had all my medical notes back now and although they didn’t tell me at the time, the initial prognosis from the surgeons at Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, was that I wouldn’t make it out of the quadriplegic category.
“Reading that now is pretty sobering once you realise how close you came to that and although there’s still a long way to go before I iron everything out, I’m incredibly lucky now to have the chance to live a normal life.
“I appreciate I’ll never be running around again, but I’m working hard to get back to moving relatively normally and I’ll definitely look to a big challenge like a half-marathon or something that will give others with big injuries some hope.”
Jackson, who also played for Bath, Doncaster, London Welsh and Wasps, says his brush with tragedy has provided a different outlook and made him realise that players must enjoy their professional careers more.
He explained: “Some players are miserable all the time, whether they’re not getting picked, are injured or have niggles, but they need to remember where they are and if they’re not going to enjoy the rugby journey, what’s the point? With all the pressure involved – striving for first team places, England or Lions recognition or whatever – players tend to live in a bubble. It’s drilled into you that you must strive for the next level, but there’s so much more to life.
“It’s easy for me to say now because I’ve been forced into my current situation, but injury has given me a different perspective and if I’d known what I know now when I played, I definitely would have done different things in my career.”
Jackson is halfway through a degree in real estate and finance that might offer him a route into the City, although coaching appeals.
“It is something I might look at, but I’ll keep my options open for now,” he said.
“I’m focusing on my recovery, which still has a fair way to go, and I’m getting married next July so that will be a major milestone.
“I’ll also be looking to help the charities that helped me – the Forever Friends appeal for the therapy centre at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Matt Hampson Foundation and Restart Rugby – and raise some money for them.”
Jackson has been back to see the Dragons and tips a number of young players for stardom.
He added: “Leon Brown is a 20-year-old prop but he’s an absolute monster of a specimen and if he stays fit I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s called up by Wales this season.
“Ollie Griffiths is a young back row who toured with Wales this summer and is a great prospect, while Hallam Amos just needs a chance because in between his injuries he’s proved he can be a world-class backthree player.
“It’s another tough season for the Dragons but with the WRU stepping in, hopefully they can bring through younger players and keep them.”