THE desperate parents of a Newport teenager who suffered severe brain injuries in a rugby match, say there is finally some hope for their son's future.

Last month the Argus highlighted the plight of Roger and Mandy Griffiths, who faced raising thousands of pounds to pay for therapy they believe will improve the quality of their son David's life.

Within hours of the Argus being published, generous readers were offering to help fundraise for the family.

Now Gwent Healthcare Trust and Newport city council's social services have agreed to meet costs of up to £2,000 a week to pay for the intensive round-the-clock treatment David needs.

His parents will find out this week if the specialist centre they visited in Leeds last Friday will accept their 17-year-old son.

David almost died following what initially appeared to be no more than a bump on the head while playing for Pill Harriers Youth XV last year.

Three days after the game the former Lliswerry Comprehensive School pupil suffered a massive blood clot and slipped into a six week coma.

Against the odds, David survived but he now requires intensive therapy to teach him basic life skills. If the Daniel Yorath Centre, which is run by the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, accepts him he will begin the painstaking journey to get his life back.

Mr Griffiths said: "The centre was a very nice impressive place. They carried out an assessment on David and we have to wait to see if they will take him there.

"If they take him they estimated they can have him there from the week commencing August 18.

"We just have to keep our fingers crossed now. It will mean a hell of a lot to David if he goes there because he will undergo speech therapy and occupational therapy.

"They will teach him the basic living skills that you and I take for granted like washing and dressing.

"It could be the first steps to getting David back on track."

Mr Griffiths added he believed the publicity last month helped them finally secure financial assistance for David's recuperation.

He said: "We tried every avenue we could think of and we were going nowhere.

"We didn't know where to turn so we thought we would contact the press and I think it has made a difference.

"Things have now started to move a bit quicker in the right direction."

The Daniel Yorath Centre is named after the son of Welsh football legend, Terry Yorath. Daniel died suddenly from a heart condition, known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in 1992.

* In the picture: David Griffiths with parents Mandy and Roger.