A NEWPORT rugby player says he wants to thank a physiotherapist who cared for him after he suffered a severe concussion during a match.

Hooker Gary Duly knocked heads with an opponent during a scrum and was unconscious for 20 minutes.

There were fears the 42-year-old had stopped breathing - so physiotherapist Gill Pratt stepped in to help.

The incident happened on Saturday when Newport Saracens took on Abersychan at the Valley team's home ground.

Early on in the second half, student teacher Mr Duly knocked heads in the scrum and was taken off by a cautious referee.

Mr Duly said: "All I remember is a feeling of total confusion. I can't describe it."

Saracens chairman David Cain helped Mr Duly off, but before they reached the sidelines he collapsed.

"He went down like a brick," Mr Cain said.

Mr Duly was unconscious and Ms Pratt, 24, from Newport, called an ambulance.

The Gwent Health Care Trust worker used smelling salts to rouse Mr Duly and kept talking to him until help arrived.

She said: "He didn't stop breathing, but it did become very shallow at one point and we thought he had."

Mr Duly said: "The first thing I remember was waking up in the ambulance - which I'm told was 20 minutes after I had collapsed."

He kept drifting in and out of consciousness but eventually came round in hospital. Doctors did tests and diagnosed severe concussion.

Mr Duly, who was back at work at Whitchurch High School, Cardiff, yesterday, said he was glad Ms Pratt was at the game. He said: "What she did was excellent."