AMATEUR rugby league player Ben Topping's career has been ended by an horrific injury in which his leg and ankle were smashed in 14 places - but Twickenham red tape caused him even more pain!

The Culcheth ARLC star had set his heart on watching his childhood heroes St Helens battle it out with Bradford Bulls in the final of the Challenge Cup last Saturday. But instead of cheering his team on at Twickenham, Ben had to settle for a seat in front of the telly.

With his leg encased in a special metal frame following surgery, he had applied for a seat in the disabled section of the stadium. He was repeatedly refused because he is not registered disabled.

The heartache began for the former Leigh and Swinton professional when he shattered his right leg while playing for Culcheth in a North West Counties League game at Bamber Bridge.

"It was a nothing tackle really," says the 32-year-old centre. "I pulled a player over me with my left leg and he fell on top of my right. It was then we both heard a 'snap'. At first I thought it was my opponent's leg that had gone but when I looked down at my lower right leg I could see I was in trouble. Strangely the pain only began to kick in after about 15 minutes."

Ben was taken to Preston Royal Infirmary where doctors diagnosed six fractures to the tibia and eight around the ankle. A few days later he had surgery when a five inch plate and screws were inserted.

Now he faces lengthy rehabilitation and currently his leg is fitted inside an ILISAROV frame which may need to stay in place for up to four months.

"That's where the problem began," he explained. "Because of the frame I can't sit in normal sized chairs and generally have to get round in a wheelchair."

He adds: "My partner Jan and I had always planned to go to Twickenham to watch St Helens in the final but when the accident happened we applied for tickets to the disabled area. We didn't want them for nowt, we were quite willing to pay the going rate.

"We applied to the Rugby League, the ticket agency and Twickenham and got absolutely nowhere. Because I wasn't registered disabled, there was nothing they could do.

"I was gutted. I've watched Saints since I was about eight and seen them in virtually every major final since. To miss out on an historic occasion like winning the treble at Twickenham was a real sickener.

"They were just totally inflexible. I'm sure provision should be made for cases like mine."

Ben now says his playing days are over but once he's back on his feet, he's thinking of moving into coaching.

"I couldn't be there to the cheer Saints on but my congratulations go to Tommy Martyn, Stan Wall and the rest of the boys."