20:37, 22 Jun 2025Updated 20:39, 22 Jun 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Gemma](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750646950_639_0_ITV.jpg\")
Gemma Owen’s ex Jacques O’Neill posts snap from hospital bed (Image: ITV)<\/p>\n
Gemma Owen’s ex Jacques O’Neill has opened up about his dream of being back in the rugby league while he was sitting in a hospital bed, three years after he followed Gemma into the Love Island<\/a> villa. Jacques told his followers that, after going on Love Island, he found himself in a \u2018dark place\u2019 but that \u2018every setback\u2019 has taught him \u2018something valuable\u2019.<\/p>\n Jacques shared a photo of himself from the hospital bed with a smile on his face and his thumb up. He reflected on his life in a lengthy caption, as he wrote: “Operation done.. Just as I was starting to get my confidence back and enjoy rugby league again, it\u2019s taken away, but that\u2019s life.”<\/p>\n The former Love Island star admitted that he has been \u2018stupidly\u2019 chasing a life that wasn\u2019t the right fit for him, but that he is getting back on track.<\/p>\n Jacques said: “Four years I stupidly had out the game, being an idiot chasing a life that wasn\u2019t for me. The result of that was that I ended up in a pretty dark place and losing myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The 26-year-old continued: “I was putting off returning to play because of the comments from others saying I had no chance to play again, saying \\he\u2019s had too long out’ etc, comments about where I was at mentally & physically.<\/p>\n “The truth is, I doubted myself too. At first I didn\u2019t think I would have ever been able to play again the state I got myself in to.<\/p>\n “I remember the first couple of months back driving home from training questioning myself if I still had it in me or not but as soon as I got a good team behind me, got rid of all distractions my mindset started to change.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: “Even though my first season back hasn\u2019t gone to plan, I\u2019m grateful for the life lessons I\u2019ve had the last few years. Every setback has taught me something valuable. It\u2019s built me up. Not just as a player, but as a person. I\u2019ll be back hungrier than ever.”<\/p>\n Although Jacques entered the villa after his ex-girlfriend Gemma Owen<\/a>, the pair had no desire to rekindle their romance, and Jacques coupled up with Paige Thorne<\/a>. Jacques then decided to call it quits on the villa life after Paige started getting to know bombshell Adam Collard<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was an emotional goodbye, and the islanders were sad to see him go, even Luca Bish<\/a>, who was coupled up with Gemma at the time.<\/p>\n Jacques, who boasts 1.1 million followers on Instagram<\/a>, regularly keeps his followers up to date on what he is up to, including going on holiday, nights out and workouts.<\/p>\n Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on<\/strong> TikTok<\/strong> <\/a>,<\/strong> Snapchat<\/strong> <\/a>,<\/strong> Instagram<\/strong> <\/a>,<\/strong> Twitter<\/strong> <\/a>,<\/strong> Facebook<\/strong> <\/a>,<\/strong> YouTube<\/strong> <\/a>and<\/strong> Threads<\/strong> <\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Jacques](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750646951_322_0_Untitled.jpg\")
Jacques O’Neill has opened up from a hospital bed <\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_Jacques-ONeill.jpg\")
The former Love Island star admitted that he has been \u2018stupidly\u2019 chasing a life that wasn\u2019t the right fit for him(Image: ITV\/REX\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Jacques](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2_Paige.jpg\")
Jacques then decided to call it quits on the villa life after Paige started getting to know bombshell Adam Collard<\/p>\n