Jones agony as foot injury forces him out of squad

FELIX JONES suffered a cruel end to his Rugby World Cup dream after the foot injury suffered against France on Saturday ruled him out of action for six weeks.

The Munster full-back had been well in contention for a place in the 30-man Ireland squad due to be named by head coach Declan Kidney at 1pm today until he landed awkwardly after going for a high ball towards the end of the 26-22 defeat at the Aviva Stadium.

Jones, 24, underwent an MRI scan yesterday, which confirmed he had sustained an injury to one of the stabilising ligaments in his right foot in the 68th-minute fall.

A statement released by the Ireland camp yesterday said the injury would be further reviewed by a specialist to rule out the need for surgery, but it would require a six-week period of immobilisation, thus ruling Jones out of the World Cup selection process.

“He had certainly put himself into contention over pre-season and the games in the last three weeks,” said Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton.

“We all wish him a speedy recovery and that he is back playing as soon as possible.”

The foot injury is the latest in a line of injury setbacks for Leinster Academy graduate Jones, who joined Munster in 2009 but broke two bones in his neck playing against Connacht in December of that year. Just three games into his comeback at the start of last season, Jones sustained a cruciate knee injury and was ruled out for a further six months. However, he returned to great acclaim in late March and his form earned him an Ireland debut against Scotland three weeks ago.

Jones’s teammate Jerry Flannery had nothing but sympathy for him.

“I was rooming with Felix during the week and I’m very friendly with him, I hang around with him in Limerick,” Flannery said on Saturday.

“To see what he’s gone through — and you ask anyone in Munster, he’s been an incredible addition for us — even when he was out after breaking his neck you could see him rehabbing non-stop.

“He’s the most diligent trainer we have in Munster I’d say and I was so happy for him to get his first cap, and I was really looking forward to him getting his first cap.”

Irish coach Kidney has less serious concerns about the fitness of loose-head prop Cian Healy, who suffered a foot injury during his try-scoring turn against France, and there was also good news concerning Tommy Bowe, whom Kidney said would more than likely play against England this Saturday.

“Tommy trained well when he joined in with us during the week. We felt he wasn’t quite right for France, but he will be looking forward to selection for next week.”