Wales star Wyn Jones reveals real reason he slipped off radar and wishes he'd said 'no'
Wyn Jones has revealed the real reasons behind his fall down the Welsh rugby pecking order and insists he is still keen to play for Wales.
Rewind the clock three years ago and Jones was one of the first names on the team sheet and a leading contender to start at loosehead for the British & Irish Lions against South Africa. Jones was named to start the first Lions Test against the world champions, but had to pull out due to an infection before making the field for the third Test in Cape Town when not fully fit and only lasted 43 minutes.
In an interview with The Times he revealed he was on a drip for 10 days after going to hospital, before somehow playing the match.
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“I only could just about get my hand above my head if I’m honest. It was adrenaline that got me through that," he said.
"It was probably because of the lack of training and lying in bed for 10 days, that led to me pinching a nerve in my back during the game. That’s what forced me off in the end, my back.
"I was lying on the floor in the changing room after the game and I couldn’t really move. That’s what you do to play I guess.”
Since that day, Jones has struggled to regain the form which made him a mainstay in the Wales squad, with injuries stalling his progress. At his best the 32-year-old is one of the best scrummagers around but he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Scarlets last season before picking up a short-term contract with Harlequins.
He revealed he suffered from severe fatigue after that long season in 2021 for club, country and the Lions, and he wishes he'd taken more time out from the game to get himself right as injury niggles started to mount up.
"If I had the time back I would have probably taken a bit more time away just to get the body and mind right to come back playing," he said.
"You kind of get in the groove of you playing at 50 per cent. I remember coming back and there were autumn internationals, and the club wanted me to play a few games before going there.
"I couldn’t even do a press-up, because my AC joint was so sore. I probably should have just put my hands up and gone, ‘Sorry I’m not ready to, my body won’t let me,’ but at the same time you can’t turn down club and country.
“When you’re asked to play, you never say no." He wishes he had, adding that the mental toll of being away from family for 28 weeks that year was also a big factor.
"A lot of people would be the same," he added. "It’s something that I’ve learnt over my career; although it’s probably too late to learn it now, if I’m honest.”
Despite being out of the international picture Jones insists he would never turn his back on his country.
“If Wales ever did give me a ring I’d definitely say yes, but that’s up to them," he told The Times. "The moment I wouldn’t want to play for Wales, I’d probably hang my boots up anyway.
"That was one reason for wanting to move to Harlequins. You want to play the highest standard, I want to challenge myself in a different league.
"If you haven’t got that hunger there’s no point in you playing rugby.”
