RUGBY has helped a Newport man through the worst time of his life.

David Davies, 48, from Royal Oak, twisted his knee in a minor accident at work nine years ago and four months ago, after 63 operations, he had his leg amputated.

Mr Davies was told by doctors to take up a hobby. because for much of the time he is housebound.

As a lifelong fan of Newport Rugby Club he decided to collect old cigarette cards and photographs and now has collections of celebrity cigarette cards, signed rugby shirts, photographs of Newport players and Newport Gwent Dragons.

His wife, Marilyn, wrote to the Argus explaining about his collection and we presented him with a number of photographs from the Argus.

Mr Davies was working as a quantity surveyor in Brighton when the accident in the office happened and he twisted his knee.

After that he never returned to work and had operations on his knee.

On one operation on a vein in his knee Mr Davies suffered a severe reaction and was technically dead on the operating table for a few seconds.

He said the experience changed his whole outlook.

But constant pain in his left leg following the operation left him crying in agony.

Mr Davies decided to move back to Newport four years ago to be near family, which is when he met Marilyn.

After being teenage sweethearts they were reunited, and three years ago married.

Mr Davies went to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, and was told the only way to stop the chronic pain was to remove the leg.

He said: "I knew I had to have it done and it was the best decision to make.

"The rugby has really helped and got me through this."

Mr Davies was an avid fan as a child and started selling raffle tickets at matches so he could watch the games and get paid.

When he moved to Brighton he had the Argus sent to him so he could keep up with the rugby news.

Mr Davies has now had a limb made especially for him.

He said: "I have promised I will be at the rugby sometime this season. It is going to be an uphill struggle but I will get there."