A rugby club that helped ignite the test careers of some stellar Welsh internationals have spoken of their shock at seeing a referee suffer a stroke in the opening minutes of their local derby on Saturday.
Bridgend Athletic's Division One West Central clash with Tondu was one of the few grassroots games in Wales to beat Storm Jorge that brought more flooding, high winds and hailstorms this weekend.
But the match was only a few minutes old at Newbridge Fields, with Tondu leading 3-0, when WRU referee Marcus Richards brought the two captains together and complained about feeling unwell.
After taking fluids on board, the Porth referee was keen to carry on, before worried officials from Bridgend and Tondu decided to abandon the game.
The referee was taken to the Princess of Wales of Hospital in the town where his condition was diagnosed. He was well enough to go on social media to thank both clubs for their help.
He wrote on Twitter: "It turns out I had a bleed on the brain, which caused a stroke of some kind.
"Hence the coordination in my legs going. Thanks to both teams, who were magnificent with me. A few days in the Princess of Wales for me.
"In hospital until the coordination in my legs and arms return. No driving for at least six weeks, but hopeful of a full recovery in time."
Bridgend Athletic team manager Paul Hearne admitted the outcome could have had a more worrying ending had the referee carried on in his condition.
He said: "Looking at him you could see he was dizzy.
"We got some fluids into him but you could see there was no way the game could go on and he had to go off.
"In fairness to him he wanted to give it another go and carry on but when he turned around to walk off he started stumbling. We called the game off and it's the best thing we could have done looking back now.
"Had he carried on it could have been horrendous. We sat him down in the dressing room and he was showing signs of a stroke by then.
"We were totally shocked when we found out he had a stroke and a bleed on the brain. But people were saying at the time he might have had a stroke.
"Thank goodness the game was stopped then.
"The well-being of the players and officials must come first and you've got to look after people.
"Out of respect for the referee we realised it was serious and trying to find a replacement official was knocked on the head. Matches can always be replayed."
The referee has been inundated with messages from Welsh rugby clubs, players and fellow whistle-blowers since his condition was diagnosed.
