Wales lock Bradley Davies has spoken for the first time since he was knocked out by New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore in Cardiff last Saturday.
The incident led to Hore receiving a five-game ban and coming under significant criticism throughout the rugby world for his actions.
Davies suffered a serious concussion and was taken to hospital, with the blow leading to the Cardiff Blues lock being unable to remember anything from the two days prior to the Test match and the day of the game itself.
"I felt very groggy for a while afterwards," said Davies to WalesOnline.
"My last memory before the game was last Wednesday and my mind has pretty much gone blank since then. I was in college doing a plumbing course and I cut my finger with a hacksaw. That was the last thing I can remember."
"I was actually only out cold for a couple of seconds on Saturday, but when I came to, I had lost all my short-term memory. That was strange because that had never happened to me before.
"I have been knocked out loads of time, but nothing like this has happened. It is not nice waking up and not knowing what has gone on. It also dented my pride a bit that I lasted less than a minute!
"After the game I was gone and I did not have a clue what was going on. Apparently I was asking the same question over and over again! On Sunday I was still a bit fragile and did not make much sense."
Davies is now eager to put the incident behind him, revealing that he has spoken to Hore who called Davies to apologise.
"It was a bit naughty, but he caught me a cracker and that is rugby," added Davies.
"I don't think he tried to knock me out. It is just one of those things. I got in his way and he caught me flush on the jaw.
"I know what he is going through because I got banned last season for seven weeks and missed the Six Nations and Grand Slam for a stupid off-the-ball incident in the opening match in Ireland.
"People ask you why you do it. But it is hard to explain and you can't answer them because you don't know yourself. I am not sure how they branded the ban because I had a 14-week suspension that was halved to seven which I thought was harsh at the time.
"But the incident has gone and I hold no grudges. He has called and texted me to apologise and I would like to leave it there."
"Hopefully I will be back next week, but I have to keep passing these knockout tests."
"It is tough enough when you are normal, never mind when you have had a bang on the head!
"There are all different questions and you have balance and do memory tests and recite the months of the year backwards. That is difficult enough when you are fine."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Watching Daviess tip tackle. I'd put the two offences in an equal bracket for penalty. Although less cowardly. 14 weeks would have been more like it. Of course Davies is going to be understanding when he's done something almost as shocking in the same year.
Posted 20:01 29th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
He's quoted in another paper as Davies said: 'It is a bit lenient when you think I got a 14-week entry point reduced to seven for my tackle". Quite right. Forget being gracious, equal justice is important.
Posted 19:49 29th November 2012
carpelone says...
Ramage.
Thanks mate and don't worry. I will start bashing McCaw again soon ;-).
Cheers.
Posted 14:40 29th November 2012
Pearcewreck says...
He seems to have a real strength of character, as opposed to Hore.........
@ Bronco I don't know if "Some of the drama queens from Wales could learn a lot from this man" but Hore certainly can.
Posted 11:50 29th November 2012
DrDeath says...
@papachinzo
I think you may need cognitive testing yourself!!
Enter "youtube Andrew Hore Bradley Davies" into google and see a cracking right hook and a man going down like a sack of spuds! No knees involved.
Incident is over & dealt with, agreed, but it's a bit early to re-write history!
Posted 11:33 29th November 2012
side_stepper says...
Seriously? All he wants is to be in the team for the next game? I hope he forgets about it (no pun intended) since his head injury is a serious issue and could be fatal. But great character from the man about forgiveness, something hard to do (especially from fans). GOD Bless in your full recovery.
Posted 08:44 29th November 2012
bronco says...
Some of the drama queens from Wales could learn a lot from this man.
Hope he gets better soon
Posted 06:57 29th November 2012
hellovanite says...
"There are all different questions and you have balance and do memory tests and recite the months of the year backwards. That is difficult enough when you are fine" Hahaha absolute classic.
Posted 06:16 29th November 2012
paulynz says...
Very, very gracious. A credit to himself, his family and the Welsh people.
Posted 03:32 29th November 2012
turboboy says...
I would get that melon checked out again Bradley. This could be an indicator of something more serious
Posted 00:49 29th November 2012
7ton says...
Agree Very Gracious words and get well soon
Posted 00:41 29th November 2012
Ramage says...
@ Carpelone I totally agree with you and it just shows hoe sometimes we the fas can be carried away with our own sense of injustice. Much food for thought.
Posted 00:08 29th November 2012
LeftRightOut says...
I bet some of his team mates are envious that he has been able to forget the autumn internationals!!
Joking aside, gracious words indeed
Posted 23:24 28th November 2012
colvin says...
Bradley's "been knocked out loads of times."
Let's hope he's getting a full checkup as you wouldn't think a swinging arm like he was on the receiving end of would have the extended impact he talked about.
Posted 22:50 28th November 2012
papachinzo says...
The knock out blow came from Hore's knee, which came down on Davies head after Hore lost his footing, so it was an accident really...
5 weeks was about right, no need to go on about it.
All the best to Davies in his recovery.
Posted 22:21 28th November 2012
vitieddie says...
I am still surprised at some of the kiwi supporters who were all defensive about this incident ... ranging from "he didn't mean it" to "davies deserves it" to "NH media is cooking up a storm" ... when it came to their players (esp their beloved capt) it was a lynch mob mentality (e.g. the WC where QC was abused by the media and crowd - am not a QC fan BTW) ... the ban for Hore seems fair enough ... lets move on.
Posted 21:59 28th November 2012
new_j4a says...
He's achieved what a lot of people in Wales are trying to do....forgotten the game. Jokes aside, he seems a decent bloke and Hore was appropriately punished for his moment of madness.
Posted 21:56 28th November 2012
masar says...
lol... ridiculous, no one believes you
Posted 20:45 28th November 2012
porridge_time says...
Gracious words from Bradley Davis and good to hear that Hore had the decency to apologise in person rather than through the media.
Posted 20:30 28th November 2012
heathy says...
This was a bad challange in the fact that it was behind the man and he didn't even have a chance to see it coming. That said, I'm not really sure if he isn't making a bit of a meal of it. Let's be honest here, he isn't the sharpest tool in the box as it is so memory loss is probably a normal day for Bradley Davies lol. If he is that bad then there is no way on earth he would even be considered for this weekend in any way shape or form. FACT. He will have to take this cheap shot on the chin (pardon the pun) and hopefully he will learn a few things before he decides to dish it out in the future. Hore has appologised which is good (although it does not make what he did okay) and got a lengthy ban. We can now probably all move on.
Posted 19:51 28th November 2012