Blyth's spirit is key to recovery

Andy Blyth laughed as he told the story, but it is not really funny.

He said: "You'll never guess how hard it is to unwrap a cream egg when you're semi-paralysed. It took me close to three-quarters of an hour to do it, using my nail to get underneath the wrapping, and then, just as I was trying to raise it to my mouth, I dropped the bloody thing."

Blyth is the former England A centre who was paralysed while playing for Sale against Saracens last March. He took the full force of the Sarries pack, but now, although he hasn't managed cream eggs, he is walking again.

And, although his story, told fully for the first time in this week's Rugby World magazine, is a reminder of the dangers which the game can pose, he believes his recovery is a testimony to the sport.

He said: "In training there are many times when you feel you've pushed yourself as far as you can, only to be required to go further. It's been the same with my condition.

"I've had to keep pushing myself, and even now, I'm doing as much as I possibly can to gain strength and stamina. When I'm tired I rest, and then get back to pushing myself further."

Blyth has not yet moved back into his Manchester home. He cannot cope on his own yet and so is living with his parents, yet his recovery to date has been remarkable.

He admitted: "I first stood up in September after an interminably long process.

"It was a very gradual thing and at times it was hugely frustrating and frightening because I so wanted to be able to stand and then walk that I was scared of failing. I tried loads of times to do it, but I couldn't summon the strength and memory. When I managed to stand for the first time, all the blood drained to my legs and I fainted. It was like being a baby all over again.