For Dave McSharry, 2015 has been a year to forget.
The 25-year-old Connacht centre signed a contract extension with the province earlier this year but that was one of the scarce high points.
The Dubliner had been one of Connacht’s most consistent players in his first few seasons with the club and was called into Ireland’s training squad during the 2013 Six Nations.
Injuries and set-backs have dogged McSharry throughout the past 12 months however.
Worryingly, four of the knocks McSharry has endured have been concussions. In a year where Ireland internationals Declan Fitzpatrick and Kevin McLaughlin were forced to retire due to multiple concussions incurred in their career, the figure of four, between January and December is startling.
Here is McSharry’s 2015 in injuries:
JAN: Sustained a concussion against Exeter Chiefs.
MAR: Grade 2 Posterior Cruciate Ligament tear to his knee. Season-ending.
AUG: Shoulder injury in pre-season training.
AUG: Sustained a concussion in pre-season game against Munster.
SEP: Broken finger [out eight weeks].
https://twitter.com/DaveMcSharry/status/649555825678266368
NOV: Concussion sustained whilst playing for Connacht Eagles.
DEC: Concussion sustained against Newcastle Falcons.
A spokesperson for Connacht Rugby told us, “Dave McSharry is following the usual World Rugby return to play protocols.
“He is being monitored closely as would any professional rugby player with a concussion.”
In 2014, McSharry’s Connacht teammate Craig Clarke was advised to retire after sustaining multiple concussions over the space of three years. Clarke himself that number could have been in double figures.
Johnny Sexton was sat out of action for 12 weeks, in December 2014, after he sustained four concussions in a calendar year.
That medical ban was proposed by an independent doctor that Sexton had visited in Paris. The Irish out-half returned in February 2015 and has not been concussed since.
Dr Michael Webb, Ulster Rugby’s medical director, has previously stated that rugby players become increasingly susceptible to concussion with every one they pick up.
Put simply, the player who has been concussed six times in their career has a greater chance of being concussed than the player who has suffered five concussive blows in their career.
One hopes McSharry’s latest period on the sidelines sees him right and that 2016 can be as injury free as professional rugby can possibly be.
