Belcher relief at return after ‘scary’ nerve issue

After suffering a “scary” injury that caused him to lose feeling in his arm, Wales hooker Liam Belcher is relieved to be back at full strength with Cardiff.

The front rower, age 29, played until a nerve issue prevented him from playing in the autumn Tests against Argentina and Japan.

In a frustrating 21-17 defeat, the hooker gave some cheer to Cardiff’s captain after being replaced by Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Belcher claimed that it was “a concerning one because I’d never had it before.”

It lost some power in your arm before hitting the tricep and extending to your forearm and grip.

Belcher made his Wales debut against Japan in the summer and made his debut with a slew of starts for the first two autumn internationals.

Due to his injury, he then missed the matches against South Africa and New Zealand, as well as the opening of Cardiff’s European Challenge Cup campaign.

He said, “I had three neck stingers in three weeks, and then it just started for the Japan game.”

My hand was completely numb and went all the way up to my tricep during the week of the All Blacks game, which caused me to lose control of my little finger.

The medical teams from Cardiff and Wales made a quick recovery for Belcher.

He claimed, “They were brilliant and gave me the confidence to come back.”

“It was a waiting game, but luckily it ended up taking four weeks, because it can sometimes take longer.”

Belcher will hope to perform well on January 1st against Ospreys in Bridgend and Dragons at Arms Park on December 26.