Roger Addison

Roger Addison was a Welsh rugby union player. A prop forward, he represented Wales at youth level and played club rugby for Pontypool RFC. He suffered a serious neck injury during a match in 1966 that left him paralysed. He lived in hospital for more than 40 years after the incident.

Early life Addison grew up in Trevethin, a suburb of Pontypool. He had five sisters and one brother.

Career Addison began his career with Pontypool RFC as a prop and represented Wales at youth level in a 9–6 victory against France in March 1964.

At the time of his injury, Addison had made 79 appearances for Pontypool and scored seven tries. Doctors initially feared that he would only survive for three weeks but he lived in hospital for the following 44 years of his life during which representatives of Pontypool RFC visited him regularly. Addison died in March 2010 aged 65. He was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in 2005 where he died five years later at the age of 65.