Women’s Six Nations: ‘I fought so hard to be back’ – Wales’ Kelsey Jones

Jones was joined in coming back last weekend by two other Wales front-row stalwarts, Gwenllian Pyrs and Donna Rose.

Like Jones, they both bear the scars of neck surgery.

For Sale Sharks loose-head Pyrs, Scotland was a first outing since surgery in November, which included a disc replacement and disc fusion, while Saracens tight-head Rose had a similar procedure in December.

“It was something that was developing and after WXV [last October] we decided that it was time to operate and then we had enough time to recover for the Six Nations,” said Pyrs, who scored a try on her return in Edinburgh.

But for Rose, playing on was not an option.

“I’d been playing through it for a while, denying to myself how bad it really was, and then it came to a point where I was in so much pain that I had to say to myself ‘you do need this surgery, let’s be honest here’,” said Rose.

“I was kind of in the mindset [that] if I admit that I’ve hurt my neck that it’s a career-ending injury. That’s why I put it to the back of my mind and went through the pain, but here I am today fighting fit and ready to go.

“It’s surreal being with the team again and running around. I wasn’t afraid to take contact, I just wanted to get stuck in with the girls again.”