Former Ospreys rugby player Harrison Walsh was playing in a match for his beloved club Swansea RFC in 2015 when he suffered a “freak” accident that was so serious it severed the nerves in his leg and left him “without feeling”. and with movement problems in his right leg. His life changed suddenly and his career came to an abrupt end.

“I’ve always liked rugby, ever since I was a child. I started playing the sport at school and, as I continued playing at local clubs, my passion for it grew enormously. It became clear that I was really good at rugby. and it finally became something I could pursue as a career,” Harrison recalled.

“I was lucky enough to be offered full-time contracts and started playing for the Ospreys U18s. Obviously, in Wales we are very passionate about rugby, so thinking about making a living from this sport and being able to continue to represent my country was a dream come true.”

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However, this dream would end suddenly. “[After my injury] They told me I might have trouble walking and might never be able to run again. “It was horrible to hear when I started playing professionally,” she added. “I felt really lost and didn’t know what to do next. It was difficult for me to experience this change of identity mentally, but also physically, because I also started to walk in a different way. It became difficult to escape what happened to me. “I never thought of the term ‘disabled,’ but suddenly I realized that my life had completely changed.” For the latest Wales news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter

After spending some time in rehab, Harrison began considering different career options for his future and soon began trying out different sports to discover new strengths.

Reflecting on the path to discovering his discus skills, Harrison said, “I actually searched for a long time to figure out what I wanted to do after the injury, because there was nothing obvious that appealed to me or that I thought was that good.” . Compared to playing rugby, I’ve tried a lot of different things, from coaching rugby, studying at university to starting a career as an engineer, painting houses and working in kitchens.’

Harrison later contacted Disability Sport Wales and began trying out different sports. “I started at Cardiff Metropolitan University studying strength, conditioning and rehabilitation. It was a brilliant decision because I was able to train as a full-time student. “I enjoyed my journey and being able to train hard again helped me regain my confidence as an athlete,” he said.

Eight years later, Harrison is now a European and Commonwealth discus medalist with his sights set on next year’s Paralympic Games. He HeyOn International Day of People with Disabilities (Sunday 3 December), Harrison spoke about how life has changed drastically since his injury and said he never expected to train for the Paralympic Games.



After an injury cut short Harrison’s rugby career, he tried several jobs before finding love and mastery in discus throwing.

Sharing his advice to others going through difficult times, he said, “Don’t be afraid of opportunities that come your way. I spent a lot of time looking for a job and thinking about what I could do because I had no idea. My whole future changed in a matter of seconds and at first it was very difficult for me, but I had no idea that I would become an athlete at the Paralympic Games.

“I don’t think anyone should try to relate their situation to someone else’s, because everyone is different. Everyone faces unique challenges throughout life and it all depends on how you respond. Getting through tough times can help you become a more resilient person in whatever career you choose, and for job seekers who want to start a career, this can be especially difficult. It may seem like the worst thing in the world right now, but it will make you who you are.”

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Harrison supports Working Wales ReAct+, which offers free, personalized careers support to people in Wales, including advice and training funding for those who are unemployed or at risk of redundancy.

“We all face different barriers to achieving our personal and professional goals, which is why I support the ReAct+ program,” she said. “Knowing that specialist support exists to help people overcome barriers to work can make a huge difference. Whether it’s funding to learn new skills, one-on-one mentoring to build confidence, or help finding and applying for jobs.”

“You never know what awaits you around the corner. “It’s important to be prepared and aware of the people and services that can help you at this time,” she added.

This Sunday, December 3rd, is International Day of People with Disabilities and from November 16th to December 16th is Disability History Month, so here at WalesOnline we are working on a series of articles to raise awareness about the lack of disability and health notification. conditions Please get in touch by email if you have a story you would like to share. E-mail: [email protected]