BREAKING both his tibia and fibula looks to have ended the rugby playing days of popular flanker Matt Bewick.

Having been at Prudhoe and Stocksfield for 12 years, with a three year stint at Flyde while at university in between, Bewick’s leg break during his side’s game with Washington is likely to result in him hanging up his boots.

With the ground sodden due to the recent rain, the 30-year-old got his boot stuck in the mud as he went to make a tackle. What resulted was a great deal of pain, the referee waiting 30 minutes after the incident before abandoning the game as they all waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Once the emergency vehicle turned up, Bewick was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Gateshead, where it was confirmed he had broken both his tib and fib.

The doctors have told him it will be at least 12 months before he can take part in any sporting activity, wiping out his rugby participation and his cricket season with Stocksfield.

Bewick, who works for Active Northumberland, admitted: “I think that’s the end of my rugby. It’s looking like being up to a year potentially to get me anywhere near sport.”