Ben Carson 'grateful' after career threatening injury scare

Six months ago, the prospect of an U20 Six Nations Grand Slam was far from the mind of Ben Carson.

The Ulster academy centre feared his career in rugby may have been over, confined to his bed after a sickening injury playing for Ulster A against the Connacht Eagles.

The Banbridge man suffered a punctured spleen, from which he only returned to action in January.

But it could have ended his career entirely.

"I was sort of bed ridden for a couple of weeks," he says, as he and his teammates prepare for their U20 Grand Slam decider against Scotland this Sunday.

"And it was a pretty tough time for me because I didn't know if I was going to be able to play the game at a high standard ever again. So it was a tough time.

"It took two or three months until I could properly run and lift weights and train properly again after that injury so it's been a long journey trying to get back into the Irish team, but obviously with perseverance from myself I didn't give up and knew that I could hopefully get there."

Having initially been warned he might not be able to play the game at a high level again, he spent four months out in total, before picking up game time with Banbridge in the All-Ireland League.

"That's what rugby is all about, you have to be ready to perform when you are called upon. I'm happy about that."

And while he featured in Ireland's U20 Six Nations campaign in Cardiff last summer, his injury layoff saw him initially miss out on Richie Murphy's squad for this season's tournament.

But an injury to Ben Brownlee saw Carson drafted into the group in recent weeks, before he started at inside centre in last week's vital win away to England.

"I was distraught, everyone plays the game because they love it, and to be told you might not be