‘I could have died’ – Ulster star revisits ‘terrifying’ injury
Ulster Rugby players huddle and an insert of Ben Carson.
Ulster back Ben Carson has revisited the injury that not only almost curtailed his professional rugby career but ended his life.
The 22-year-old will earn his seventh cap for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship clash against Connacht this weekend, three years on from a significant setback.
He was just 19 years old when he sustained a punctured spleen two minutes into Ulster A’s clash with Connacht in 2021.
Ben Carson’s life-threatening injury
However, he has overcome the setback and is now an important member of Richie Murphy’s squad following his emergence into the senior ranks earning a three-year contract extension.
Reflecting on the injury, Carson admits that it did lead him to briefly to question his future in the sport.
“Injuries are part of the game, but I did go through a pretty tough time. With the spleen, the doctors told me there was a chance I could have died and stuff like that and that’s kind of terrifying,” he told reporters ahead of the Irish derby.
“There were thoughts going through my head during those tough times like ‘do you really want to play this again, it’s been really tough’ and you wonder do you ever want to go through that again but then you remember the reason you play – you love it. I’ve always wanted to be a rugby player, so why stop?
“I got better, got through injuries and it’s probably made me more resilient and made me better for it.”
Taking his chances
While the spleen injury almost ended his career, Carson is now making the most of his opportunities, particularly this season with the setbacks for Stuart McCloskey and James Hume.
He has also benefitted from working with Murphy, who he won a U20 Six Nations Grand Slam with in 2022.
“This time last year, I wasn’t playing much for Ulster but this year a few injuries, James Hume being out and Stuart McCloskey having a few niggles, gave me the opportunity to put my best foot forward and perform,” he added.
“Richie and I have a pretty good relationship. He coached me at under-20s, we won the grand slam and he was happy enough with how I went there so when he came in here he was telling me from the start he was going to give me those opportunities I hadn’t really been getting and when he did I was delighted.”
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