Northampton Saints flyhalf Anthony Belleau stepped in to play a key Investec Champions Cup match only days after losing several teeth in a freak training accident.
The 29-year-old Frenchman was called into the match 23 for the clash against Bordeaux Begles at short notice following a calf injury to regular pivot Fin Smith, despite still bearing the scars of the horror facial injury suffered earlier in the week.
Belleau required dental surgery and stitches after the incident. Remarkably, he insisted he was fit to play, lining up against Bordeaux in his home country with a specially made gum shield and mouthguard to protect his remaining teeth.
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His courage could not prevent a 50-28 defeat for Saints in France, but his willingness to take the field under such circumstances did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson revealed the extent of the injury and Belleau’s determination to feature.
“He had a pretty shocking injury – a really big cut down his chin and he lost teeth,” Dowson said. “We found teeth on the training pitch that we presume were his.
“He’d been messaging the physio all week saying, ‘I’m fit to play, I’m fit to play.’ Because we had Fin fit, we wanted to look after him and make sure that was healed.
“But as soon as Fin went down, Tony was knocking on the door saying, ‘I want to play.’”
Belleau played the full 80 minutes.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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