Top Six Nations star lost identity and career in sickening Wales rugby match incident

Former Scotland international Thom Evans revealed he struggled with losing his identity after a severe neck injury against Wales ended his rugby career at age 24. Evans suffered the injury during a 2010 Six Nations match following a collision with Welsh full-back Lee Byrne, coming within a millimeter of paralysis or death before retiring four months later.

Following his forced retirement, Evans rebuilt his professional life through fitness, television, and modeling appearances on shows including Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor: Celebrity. While he remains grateful for his physical recovery and is engaged to singer Nicole Scherzinger, Evans admitted he still occasionally reflects with sadness on what he could have achieved in rugby.