Close shave for ace Beard
ADAM BEARD has revealed how his World Cup dream threatened to become a nightmare after he was rushed from Heathrow to Cardiff for emergency surgery.
The lock complained of stomach cramps the night before Warren Gatland’s side left for Japan and was deemed unfit to fly.
He was diagnosed with appendicitis on his return to Wales and immediately went under the knife to have his appendix removed.
Beard – who is now out in Japan but is yet to play after losing three kilos due to the op – said: “When we were travelling as a squad up to Heathrow my stomach was getting worse and more painful.
“When we got to Heathrow the doctor felt I wasn’t fit enough to fly and that I had to be seen back at Heath Hospital in Cardiff.
“I was lucky our bus driver was going back that way and I had it to myself on the way back – a big 52 seater!
“It drove up to the A&E entrance and I got out on my own. It must have looked a bit weird.
“It was appendicitis so I had the operation.
“I was lucky I didn’t get on the flight. If I had it could have been dangerous.
“The doctors were all saying they would
from ALEX BYWATER probably have had to make an emergency landing. I’m very lucky.”
After being passed to fly he arrived in Japan on September 21 and has been doing double training sessions since in a bid to get fit.
Beard, 23, added: “My mother is a worrier and she was telling me not to fly, but my old man was like, ‘Come on man, it’s only an appendix out!’
“I’m a lot better than I was. I lost my appetite and a couple of kilograms in the process so I was given a bit of a free rein when I got out here.
“I could eat whatever I wanted.
“I’m doubling up on everything at every meal. “Normally I’d have four eggs and two toast with breakfast, but now I’m having porridge and fruit too.
“When I first came out there was a McDonald’s close to our hotel and the staff were like, ‘Just get it in you, have whatever you want.’
“I’m doing about 5,000 calories a day and at first my stomach was hurting because of how much I was eating.
“The steaks are really good out here and I have been smashing sushi.”
Beard was ribbed by team-mates for his late arrival, wearing the wrong kit and losing weight when he did eventually turn up.
Spirits are high in the Wales camp after wins over Georgia and crucially Australia put them in control of Pool D and Beard hopes to be fit for the clash with Fiji on Wednesday.
He said: “We’ve had two massive wins to start the tournament off and you can’t ask for more than that.
“It would have been nice to be out there with the boys, but I am working my hardest to be fit for selection.”