Boss Jones hungry for Pontypool return after health scare

In January, in the build-up to Pooler's WRU National Cup quarter-final against Carmarthen Quins, the former hooker was running a session for youngsters as part of his job as a rugby hub officer.

Jones hadn't been feeling well throughout the day and after taking a bad turn rang for medical advice. He was told to ring an ambulance or get taken to hospital.

In commitment to rugby that won't surprise his Pooler team, the 41-year-old finished the session – "probably not the best thing to do" – before heading for the Royal Gwent Hospital.

"I was on the stroke ward and that was quite frightening with people being wheeled in and out – I was probably the youngest there by about 30 years," said the father-of-three.

Jones, son of the legendary late Pooler coach Steve 'Junna', was in hospital for a week before being discharged to recuperate at home in Pontypool.

"They didn't know whether it was a mini-stroke but they have said now that it was something called FND – functional neurological disorder," he said.

"It was stress that affected part of my brain and that acted like a stroke. It wasn't a blockage or bleed on my brain, it was all down to stress.

"It was a relief when I was told that because at the time they didn't know what it was. Since then I have spoken to one or two people who have had it before and it's been good for me.

"One of our player's sister had it and I met up for a chat with her. That's great because I don't feel on my own with it.

"You can see similar patterns with what they have gone through and they give advice, so that has been reassuring."

Jones played in the front row but is now getting used to a different to a different sort of rehabilitation to injuries suffered in the rough and tumble on the pitch.

"It's strange because in rugby rehab is all physical and this is more mental. It was strange going to rehab and physio but not doing active stuff, it being more with the mind," he said.

"It's coming on now and it's another challenge for me – I am pretty positive about it all.

"Physically I am pretty good and not far away from being back to normal. If I am tired then that's when I start getting forgetful but it's a massive improvement from where I was."

Jones watched on as Pontypool suffered more promotion agony when the season was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He intends to be at the helm when the go-ahead is given for another Championship title bid.

He said: "Touch wood it won't be too long until I am back to everything… whatever 'everything' is at the moment!

"I've been down (to Pontypool) and had a look at stuff but didn't feel mentally able to do anything at the time.

"This period has given me a bit more time to rest up and get myself sorted, so I am hoping to be straight back in whenever we are all given the green light to start up again."

READ MORE: Jones' review of Pooler's season