The Rocky Road to Recovery

Missing one Premiership Women's Rugby final through injury is devastating for any player. Missing two consecutive finals - that's the cruel reality Wales hooker Kelsey Jones has endured.

Gloucester-Hartpury's recent victory over Saracens marked their historic 'threepeat' of titles - with Jones forced to watch from the sidelines both this year (due to a serious knee injury) and in 2024 (while recovering from neck disc replacement surgery).

"It's probably one of the hardest things I've been through as a player," Jones told BBC Sport Wales. "These finals are exactly where I want to be - the business end of season is when I thrive."

Front Row Fighters Return

Jones made her emotional return last weekend in Wales' opening Six Nations loss to Scotland, coming off the bench after months of rehabilitation:

"I fought so hard to be back. Without my incredible support network, I wouldn't have made that pitch on Saturday."

She's not alone in her comeback story. Fellow Wales forwards Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks) and Donna Rose (Saracens) also returned at Murrayfield after their own neck surgeries:

• Pyrs underwent disc replacement and fusion in November, scoring a try in her return
• Rose admitted delaying surgery: "I was in denial about how bad it was until the pain became unbearable"

Looking Ahead to England Clash

The three veterans (with over 100 combined caps) are now preparing for Saturday's historic match against England at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, where:

• Over 12,000 tickets have been sold (breaking Wales' standalone women's rugby attendance record)
• Jones remains philosophical about injury risks: "It's part of the sport... I wouldn't change a thing"

The Bigger Picture

This story highlights:

1. The physical demands of professional rugby, especially for front-row players
2. The mental resilience required to overcome multiple serious injuries
3. The growing popularity of women's rugby in Wales

With Wales looking to bounce back after their Scotland defeat, these warriors' comebacks could provide the inspiration needed against tournament favorites England.