John Connolly facing 12-month road to recovery in hospital from spinal injuries after 2m fall

John Connolly earnt his Knuckles nickname from his days as a nightclub bouncer, now in the fight of his life he has vowed to make a full recovery from his spinal injuries after a horror fall.

Former Wallabies coach and Sunshine Coast councillor John Connolly is in the fight of his life with serious spinal injuries after a fall earlier this month. Picture: Jo Connolly

He earnt the nickname Knuckles from his days as a nightclub bouncer and former Wallabies coach John Connolly has vowed to recover from the biggest fight of his life.

The former Australian rugby mentor suffered serious spinal fractures after a two-metre fall at his father Jack’s Brisbane home on Sunday, August 1.

Mr Connolly said he was trying to lean on a pole and effectively went “arse up”.

He said the impact fractured “everything” and his injury list included a broken arm and dislocated shoulder.

Speaking from his ward at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Mr Connolly said he’d endured six hours of successful surgery but the full extent of the damage was not yet known.

“The day after it happened I had no feeling from the neck down but now I’m getting tingling down on my legs,” Mr Connolly said.

“How much damage I’ve done to my spinal cord, we don’t yet know. It’s very complicated.”

Mr Connolly led the Wallabies to the 2007 World Cup and earned his Knuckles nickname from his days as a nightclub bouncer in Darwin.

He’s also a man who called the shots at the Queensland Reds, and European clubs Stade Francais, Bath and Swansea.

Mr Connolly was under no illusions of how tough his 12-month outlook was, but he said he wanted to be home by Christmas.

He was expected to be moved to the hospital’s spinal ward to start his slow recovery within days.

Mr Connolly said his pain levels had eased from the “15/10” levels three weeks ago.

“The long-term goal is to get out in 12 months, but really I want to get home by Christmas,” he said.

“So it’s really a wait and see process.

“I just have to stay strong and work hard. There is no other way.

“If I get into a wheelchair, great, if I can stand, great, if I can walk, great.”

The former Wallabies coach John Connolly says he has a 12-month recovery after he suffered a fall earlier this month.

Supported by his wife Jo and son Jesse, Mr Connolly said he had been inundated with calls and texts from those on the Sunshine Coast and rugby union communities.

Wallabies great Tim Horan led the chorus for support on social media.

“One of the best brains in the game. This will be a tough fight for “Knuckles” … we’re all with you,” Horan tweeted.

Mr Connolly said the wave of support had spurred him on.

“I am an outcome driven person and I have had tremendous support,” he said.

“But there’s far worse people off than me. You just have to go through the wards here to realise that.

“You have to be tough on yourself to get through it and have a game plan which we do.

“I’m committed to 12 months hard work but it could be less.”

Family friend Wayne Smith had been to visit Mr Connolly and said his improvement was slow but evident.

“He has a long road to recovery ahead but the signs are good,” Mr Smith said.

“He’s in good spirits but doing it tough.”