Three years ago, Kieran could hardly walk - now he's training with the best rugby players in the country

Only three years ago, Kieran Ions could barely walk and had never played a game of rugby.

But after undergoing surgery to repair the short tendons in his legs which consigned him to a wheelchair, the Acklam teenager lost weight, regained his confidence and pulled on a rugby jersey for the first time a year ago.

Now the 13-year-old, who plays for Acklam Rugby Club, has been offered the chance to train with the England Rugby team’s development programme.

Kieran’s mum Gemma Livingstone, 33, said: “When he was about three years old, we noticed he was walking on his tip toes and he started getting pains in his feet and legs.

“I took him to North Tees hospital and they told us they thought he might have cerebral palsy so they gave him brain and spinal scans, but those revealed the tendons in his legs were too short and that made him uncomfortable.

“He could barely walk, he was in so much pain, and because he walked awkwardly, he could slip and easily break his foot.

“It was really hard as a parent seeing him like that. He was in agony. He had a wheelchair, and he couldn’t go out to play with his friends.

“He was consigned to a wheelchair and spent most of the time on the sofa. He put on weight, lost his confidence and ended up being bullied.”

But then at the age of ten, a transfer to James Cook University Hospital saw Kieran undergo an operation to help his tendons lengthen - and he hasn’t looked back since.

His stepdad Steven then arranged for him to take kickboxing training with Paul Bonnel and Andrew Mann at the Akita academy in Billingham.

Stepdad Steven Livingstone, 38, said: “The operation he had would normally only be done on an 18-year-old who had nearly stopped growing, but because Kieran was in so much pain and he’d already grown a lot they did it for him then.

“He spent six months in physio, but once he went to kickboxing his life completely changed.

“They gave him his confidence back and the weight fell off him. Paul and Andrew didn’t charge us a penny, they don’t with kids, and now he’s a completely different lad. We owe them a lot for giving him that chance to turn things around.

“Imagine being a young lad who couldn’t do PE or play sports with your mates?

“I think what he has achieved since then is incredible.”

Acklam Grange student Kieran, who has a younger sister Kacileigh, 11, and two brothers Kenzie, 3, and Rocco, 1, then attended a rugby trial at school.

He impressed so much that scouts from Acklam Rugby Club took him on and he now stars regularly for them, as well as being recognised by his country and asked to train every month for two years with the England Rugby Developing Player Programme.

Steven continued: “Rugby has taken over now, and he’s going far. We’ve been told he’s been watched by Newcastle Falcons. He loves the game and wants to keep playing.

“We’re all very proud of him.”