Huge Welsh rugby talent was in intensive care for a month as life turned upside down

Scarlets academy star Tiaan Sparrow has bounced back from a rare life threatening illness (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

At only 19, Tiaan Sparrow is back playing the sport he loves, a milestone made even more extraordinary considering he spent weeks in intensive care battling a rare illness that nearly ended his rugby dreams before they’d begun.

Two years ago the then 17-year-old captained the Scarlets U18s to the Regional Age Grade U18s title and was set for inclusion in the Wales U18s squad that spring. He was tipped for big things with the Scarlets' head of pathway and academy head coach Scott Sneddon even comparing Sparrow with legendary Wales openside Justin Tipuric in an interview with WalesOnline last year.

But almost overnight life changed for Sparrow who fell ill and spen