He left the field with his ear hanging off - but Super League star Ben Garcia has been left thanking the surgeons who salvaged it.
The Catalans Dragons captain picked up the horrendous injury during his side's 36-10 defeat to the Warrington Wolves on Sunday, with the skin clearly sliced off his ear as he was helped off. Garcia, 29, was then promptly taken to a nearby hospital for surgery.
At one point, it appeared touch and go whether he'd be able to travel back to Perpignan with his teammates. Indeed, the team's private plane back from Newcastle, with the city having hosted Magic Weekend, was delayed as fellow players waited for news.
