Wasps flanker advised to retire 17 months on from horror judo injury - reports

Wasps flanker Sam Jones has been advised to retire from rugby a year and a half on from a horror judo accident picked up during an England training camp.

Sam Jones broke his leg, his ankle and a joint within his ankle when Maro Itoje fell on him during a judo exercise in late 2016 and has now been advised to retire, reports the Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler.

Earlier this year Dai Young outlined the horrific nature of the injury, saying it was three breaks in one.

“He broke his leg, his ankle, his syndesmosis (a joint between the tibia and fibula at the ankle) and ripped all the ligaments in his ankle. It was horrendous.”

The freak accident came before the promising loose forward even had a chance to win an England camp. He did return to light training at the beginning of this season but has since not been able to recover and it is understood a specialist has recommended that he retire from the game.

Jones had a decorated career as a rugby player at Wasps.

Born in Aylesbury, Jones started playing rugby at Aylesbury Grammar School and Aylesbury RFC, aged 11. He rose through the ranks of the Wasps Academy system to make his Wasps senior debut in November 2010 against Newport Gwent Dragons, having featured many times for the Wasps ‘A’ team.

Having represented England at U16 and U18 levels, Sam was a key member of the England U20 side that reached the final of the 2011 Junior World Cup.

As a young developing back-rower Sam was exposed to significant first team action during the 2011/12 season following a number of injuries and despite the difficult circumstances, the youngster shone across the back row.

By 2012/13 he was also selected for the Barbarians squad as one of the two uncapped players alongside fellow Wasps teammate Elliot Daly, topping off a great season from the youngster. Sam continued to progress in 2013/14 he made 26 appearances for the club and scored a try against Newcastle Falcons.

The 25-year-old continued to rack-up the appearances in the 2014/15 season, with another 14 and reached a landmark 100 Wasps appearances in 2015/16. His 20 appearances in a Wasps shirt that season were enough to see him selected in the England Saxons squad that toured South Africa that summer. Good form at the start of the 2016/17 season saw Jones named in the England EPS squad, where he picked what now looks like a career ending victory.

According to Wasps.co.uk, away from rugby, Sam completed his full-time degree in English at King’s College London in July 2014 and he now writes his own food blog.