The Wales prop fractured his leg during the weekend’s victory over Italy that booked his side’s passage to the quarter-finals, but he will have to watch that game from his armchair as he
prepares to fly home tomorrow, with Neath-Swansea Ospreys teammate Paul James leaving on Tuesday to take his place in the squad.
“Obviously I’m devastated and it probably won’t fully sink in until I have to leave the boys and head home,” said Jones. “I had mixed feelings on Saturday night. It was great that
the boys won the game as it was a tough match and we have qualified for the quarter-finals so I’m really pleased.
“There was genuine joy that we had won our first three games. But once everything had settled down the full impact of what had happened started to dawn. You get back to your hotel room, sit down and it hits home that you’re out of the tournament.”
Wales coach Steve Hansen admitted the loss was a “tragedy” for both Jones and the team after his hard work to force his way into the squad and then into the starting XV. “I’ve told him that people grow out of adversity and I’m sure Duncan will,” said Hansen.
Jones had been playing some of his best rugby before fracturing the lower fibula in his right leg after falling awkwardly in a tackle just 25 minutes into the clash with Italy. He said: “I was happy with the way things had been going. I had started two of the three games and I was enjoying my rugby.
“But I guess that’s the way things go sometimes, there’s nothing that can be done about it. It’s just one of those things.” Jones has been ruled out for at least six weeks and will also miss the start of the Heineken Cup.
