ED Jackson admits the fact he will never play rugby again has hit home now that his Dragons teammates are back for pre-season – but he has the more important battle of walking again to focus on.

The Dragons number eight was recovering from a shoulder injury in April when he dived into the shallow end of a swimming pool.

The 28-year-old, a hugely influential member of the squad who played 36 games since joining from Wasps in 2015, suffered a spinal injury and was warned that he might not walk again.

However, after almost three months of operations and rehabilitation, Jackson has regained significant movement in his arms and legs and is poised to move back home to continue his recovery.

"I have been obviously told I am not going to play professional rugby again," Jackson told BBC Wales.

"If someone had said that to me before, that would have been terrible. It was all I had ever known, what was I going to do?

"I am getting my head around things but there are more important things, like trying to be able to walk again.

"Now the boys are back pre-season and I am not going back into training, it's starting to hit home.

"The Dragons have been supportive and the rugby community's response has been unbelievable.

“I have had messages from all over the world which is humbling. People who have I never met or only played against once or twice."

Jackson’s rehabilitation has been helped by funding from the Restart programme, part of the Rugby Players’ Association in England, and he has been helped by the Matt Hampson Foundation, started by the former Leicester prop who was left paralysed by an injury suffered in scrum training with England Under-21s.

The former Wasps, London Welsh and Doncaster back row forward has been documenting his progress on social media and has received overwhelming support from far and wide.

It is a process that is proving inspirational to others and therapeutic to Jackson, who has been delighted by steady progress.

"My left side is more damaged," he said. "I have good movement in my arms. My left hand started moving three weeks ago but there is no strength.

"My right leg is good. In my left leg I have power to push and can extend it but have no strength in my ankle. I can't pick up my foot, which is stopping me walking.

"So things are moving but have slowed down. Changes are weekly rather than daily but I am hopeful I can get it all back.

"If someone had given me this diagnosis in week one where I had no movement in all four limbs, I would have bitten their hand off.

"I have more back then I could have ever prayed for."

South Wales Argus:

After his hard work in hospitals, Jackson is set to return home to his father and stepmother’s house in Bath in the coming days.

With the support of friends and family, especially his partner and ‘physio’ Lois Rideout, Jackson is upbeat.

"Being in hospital, you see there are people in far worse situations living amazing lives,” he said.

"I have no right to feel upset or sorry for myself. It's just another injury I am rehabbing from, that's how I am looking at it.

"My life has changed completely but I am excited about what the future holds. It's not scaring me.

"Time will tell how much I get better. Even if it does not get any better than this, which I am sure it will, I will be fine."

For the full interview with Jackson and video go to http://bbc.in/2tgZNz9