'I played whole game with a ruptured testicle': Wakefield warrior Richard Mathers' toe-curling confession 9 Apr 2013 20:40 Crunching collision in early moments of weekend loss to Wigan caused damage but star claims he did not notice injury until the next day!

Rugby League star Richard Mathers has fans shaking their heads in amazement and crossing their legs in sympathy after admitting he played a full game with a ruptured testicle.

And to make matters worse for the tough-as-nails Wakefield full-back, his team lost the match to Wigan last Sunday.

Mathers revealed he suffered the grisly injury the very first time he touched the ball, but didn't notice he had a problem until THE NEXT DAY.

"The doctor said he'd never seen such trauma in that area," he explained.

"I got a knee flush on my right testicle in the first carry of the game. I got a foot injury later in the game and it wasn't until I got in the shower on Monday morning that I noticed there was a lot of swelling."

Horrifyingly, Mathers is the second Super League player to suffer this particular injury in a matter of months.

Warrington's Paul Wood suffered the eye-watering fate in October's Grand Final - and also played on.

Mathers told BBC Radio Leeds: "I can't thank the club doctor enough. My main concern was my foot, but as soon as I asked him to examine my testicle, he told me priorities had changed.

"I had an ultrasound and then the surgeon told me there was a good chance that I was going to have to have it removed.

"You don't expect something this serious to happen. I've had two knee reconstructions and you expect cuts and bruises but to potentially lose a testicle is life changing.

"When I first woke up after surgery my first question was 'have I got one or two?' I've got to have complete rest for the next two weeks."