19. Jamie Roberts plays on with skull fracture



Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts achieved a rare feat in 2008 when a sickening clash of heads with Australia’s Stirling Mortlock brought a hush over the Millennium Stadium.

The 74,000 crowd held its breath as Roberts and Mortlock were helped off the field, looking in a bad way.

Yet, amazingly, the Welshman returned to play for a further 15 minutes, helping to create a try for Shane Williams in the Dragons’ 21-18 victory.

After that, he left the field and joined a dazed Mortlock in going to hospital where X-rays revealed Roberts had fractured his skull.

The injury kept him out of action for six weeks, but he was back for the 2009 Six Nations.

The then-medical student said afterwards: “I wasn’t unconscious at the time. I was feeling dizzy and knew I had taken a big bang.

“The world was just spinning for a second. I got to my feet and my head was hurting.

“I can remember the build-up to Shane’s try, but my head got worse after and I knew I had to go off.”