Doctors have told an aspiring rugby star who broke his neck during a match that he can go home.

Nathan Cubitt, from Silsden, has spent six months in hospital after suffering severe neck injuries during a scrum while playing for Keighley Crusaders against the Bradford & Bingley Bees in November.

The 16-year-old has been warned he may never walk again but he has amazed specialists and nurses so far by his determination to make a recovery.

He underwent spinal surgery at Leeds General Infirmary after the accident before being transferred to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Nathan still has no feeling below his armpits and no fine motor movement in his arms and hands, but he is adapting and working hard to learn how to move his body.

His efforts have so impressed Pinderfields staff they decided to keep him longer so he could achieve even more, said his mum, Sue.

She said messages of support from friends, rugby clubs and rugby stars including England legend Jonny Wilkinson had given Nathan and her family strength.

“It’s been tough for all of us but their messages have been a massive help,” she said.

“Nathan keeps pushing himself, learning new things and new ways of doing things.

“It’s not likely he will ever walk again, I think he’s got his head round that now.”

Fundraising efforts have been continuous with the next on Saturday, May 26, when Jason Robinson, dual-code rugby international and British Lion, will open the Nathan Cubitt Tag Rugby Tournament at Rose Cottage and play for Nathan’s under-17s team.

Entry for the event is £30 for a team of ten. For more details, e-mail nathantagrugby@gmail.com.