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Ben John steps away from game over long term health fears

Ben John

Ospreys wing Ben John has confirmed that he is to take a 12-month sabbatical from rugby as he recovers from the latest of a series of head injuries that have affected him over the last year.

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The 26-year old has been sidelined since the Boxing Day game against the Scarlets when he left the action shortly before half-time following an aerial collision.

That was the third such incident to affect Ben during 2017, limiting him to just 10 appearances since the start of last year.

Specialist advice was for Ben to sit out the remainder of this season, after which time he is expected to make a full recovery with no long-term concerns. However, the player himself has made the decision to take an extended break from playing in order to look at his long-term options.

Speaking after confirming the news, John said: “I’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines over the last year, dealing with the effects of head injuries, and it has made me think longer-term than just the next match or the next month. When you find yourself in that position it does make you think long and hard about your future.

“While the specialist opinion is that I’ll be ready to play after a six-month break, I’ve decided it’s in my best interests to take a year out and use that time wisely. I want to look at my options in terms of life outside of rugby and prepare for the future, while ensuring I’m fully rested and ready to go again next year.

“The support I’ve had from everybody at the Ospreys has been fantastic, not just over the last year or so while I’ve been dealing with these issues but for the last 10 years, having come through the age-grade system here. I’m grateful for that support which has certainly helped me no end during some tough times.

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“Taking time out gives me the opportunity to look at new experiences and options before resuming my career next year refreshed and fully fit.”

Dan Griffiths. Rugby General Manager at the Ospreys, said: “Ben has been a great club man over the last 10 years, someone who has always given everything to the cause on and off the field, including taking his first steps on the coaching pathway within the age-grade set-up.

“The last year or so has been very difficult for him but he has dealt with it very maturely and, by taking an extended break, is giving himself time to not only look at future options but to ensure he is fully refreshed and in the best possible health for 2019 and beyond. We look forward to seeing him back in action soon.”

The former Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr pupil’s early rugby days were spent at Loughor RFC. He then represented his home region at age-grade level before graduating to the Principality Premiership with Aberavon, scoring eight tries in 60 matches for the Wizards.

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Capped at all Wales age-grade levels, he went to the 2010 Junior World Championships in Argentina, just months after making his Ospreys debut in an LV= Cup win over Leeds Carnegie at the Liberty Stadium.

He has made 79 regional appearances, scoring 15 tries.

Elswhere Brian O’Driscoll has been reacting to the news that Jamie Heaslip is retiring with immediate effect.

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JW 7 hours ago
Western Force and ACT Brumbies looking for signs of progress in Super Rugby Pacific

Yeah, that’s what I was referring to too. You know in that situation the kind of things that form your picture of NRL or A league etc disappear in the case of kiwi rugby supporters, where they believe they have that advantage over aus rugby.


I have to put my hand up here. While I can see the reasoning behind a much better Reds, and even though they were good enough to win against the top 3 last year, I still don’t see them climbing (places) like you’d expect (all fair and reasonable points aside I mean).


But yes, I asked that because I do find aussie rugby supporters unique in this example of pragmatism. Look, I still think the circumstances dictate that it is why there isn’t more support for rugby in aus (they would need to win more like anything), but it is a) the kind of outlook that made my try to think of the SR standings in a way unassociated to nationality, and b) something that should be captured somehow and adopted by everyone.


Because I have no doubt SR died because of nationalism. Here, like with your above example, all there were for years were complaints of how better kiwi teams weren’t getting a deserved finals ranking. Now while the whole topic is complicated to get right, to have it get to the point where one side almost wants to kill it off and drive the otherside away is just not healthy.


I honestly think there are really easy things to do that could resolve the problem (if aus rugby culture couldn’t be copied/spread lol) like having even just a few players in each others teams. SR’s getting by right now because aussies population is so big there are still enough core fans that can have your outlook (though that survey said nearly a third also support another country?), but everything changes, and if the shoe is on the other foot at some time in the future I’d imagine that problem would “remain“ just long enough that NZ wouldn’t be able to “get by”.


There are just so many sports like SR that don’t have a parity system and end up with this sort of predictability that must be hard to ignore and get excited about. That its not down to something simple like being the richest is irrelevant. Visiting Japan it was really interesting to see how they had become supporters of these particular top sides. What do Canadians think about the Stanley Cup going to teams out of Law Vegas and Florida?

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