Matthews heartbroken as injury ends his career
The former Ireland A international is the latest professional player who has been forced to call a halt to his career. The 28-year old picked up the injury shortly after making his 100th appearance for Connacht, who he joined from Munster seven seasons ago.
“I was running and went to go off my left and it was like as if someone had kicked me really hard. I looked back and there was no one there. I knew straight away it was bad, the pain was something else,” he said.
Matthews had ruptured his left Achilles tendon and was told it was more serious as the tear was high up. He had surgery in a week and the long road to recovery began. However, it became apparent during the summer the recovery was not working out as well as expected.
“It was heartbreaking. I was gutted and it took a long time for it to sink in. There were a few tears as I realised this was it, there was no way back. I’m still coming to terms with it.
“It struck me in the stand against Toulouse and against last weekend against the Ospreys that I would never again experience the thrill of being out there, the buzz from the crowd when you make a break or get a tackle in.
“I just thought I would get another two or three years out of it, maybe when I was 30 or 32.”
Meanwhile, Leinster’s hand will be strengthened considerably for this Friday’s RaboDirect Pro12 visit of Cardiff Blues to Dublin with a number of Ireland internationals and other high-profile names returning.
Isa Nacewa, who missed the win over Treviso with a rib injury, is expected to come back in. Cardiff lie just five points and three places behind second-placed Leinster and assistant coach Greg Feek is expecting a stern test.
“Defensively they are very good so they are going to put a lot of pressure on us. We are going to have to be very accurate on the finer details, get our set piece ball and provide a platform and be really physically up there.”
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