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When Riley Davies was a baby, doctors said he would never be well enough to play sports.

Yet every week, the brave eight-year-old straps on his rugby boots and heads down to the rugby field to play with his local team.

But one thing that separates little Riley from his teammates is the 43cm high and 2.6kg oxygen tank that he is carrying on his back.

Riley was diagnosed with a rare and life-limiting condition called Children’s interstitial lung disease (chILD).

It was discovered when he was a baby after his parents Matthew and Kat noticed their son was not gaining weight and was suffering from regular chest infections.

Mum Kat said: "When he's playing rugby, from afar you can't see the tubes on his face and he just looks like a regular little boy playing the game he loves."

(Image: Peter Bolter)

But the Maesteg school boy's oxygen tank hasn't held him back from playing the sport that he loves.

Every week he takes to the field with Maesteg Celtic RFC's under 8s to play tag rugby.

Mum Kat, 34, added: "One day Riley had heard his friends talking about playing rugby in the school yard so he came home and said that he wanted to play. His older brothers always encouraged him to play sports and push himself and I think that really encouraged him to give rugby a go.

"He really wanted to copy his brothers and do what every other normal boy was doing. I took him down to the club and had a chat with the coaches and we just said we would see how it goes."

She smiled: "As soon as he started playing and I saw the smile on his face we could tell he just loved it."

The Caerau Primary pupil is 1 out of 4 children diagnosed with chILD in Wales but his parents maintain that he has the same attitude as every other little boy his age.

"He is such a confident little boy, he will go up and talk to anybody really. I definitely think that rugby has helped him with that and given him the confidence that he was lacking before.

"It has given him a sense of self-belief."

(Image: Peter Bolter)

But Riley's childhood hasn't been short of some hardships.

"There have been some instances where kids have called him 'oxygen boy' and just been cruel like kids can be. Some people have just stared at him too, which isn't very nice." added Dad Matthew.

"I would really rather they just ask and we can have a chat about it.

"Riley carries the oxygen tank 24/7, he used to pull it around next to him and I remember when he went to the park he’d have to slide down the slide with the tank following him.

“Now it is a lot easier as he just carries it around with him on his back. He even knows how to do all the tubes and things himself."

But both parents claim that Riley takes everything in his stride and has a great support system around him including his 'rugby family' from Maesteg Celtic RFC.

"They are just a lovely group of young boys down there and are really look out for one another, they are protective over Riley," said Mum Kat.

"They don't see any different, they just see Riley and the energy he has, it's just great to watch."

(Image: Peter Bolter)

And Riley's inspirational attitude was celebrated earlier this week with him winning the award for Most Inspirational Person of the Year at the Ospreys Region Community Awards.

Robert McGee from Maesteg Celtic RFC, whose players nominated Riley said "We as a club believe in rugby for all and we are not about winning but making sure that every player gets half a game regardless of their ability it’s all about being a rugby family.

"We are so proud of Riley and will be getting together as a whole club one night to celebrate Riley’s achievement."

Due to the rarity of chILD neither doctors nor parents can be sure what the future looks like for Riley. Every case has been different, but doctors remain happy with Riley's progress believing that rugby is actually helping with the condition and strengthening his fitness levels.

"Only god can tell and we just take every doctors appointment as it comes. In time some children come off the oxygen and in the past some have passed away," added Matthew.

"We just make sure that he is enjoying his life right now - he's playing rugby with his friends, he goes on holidays, he has been modelling and recording a charity single with Ty Hafan - he does so much."

Mum Kat added: "Doctors say that he won't live to 18 but I think he is defying the odds. I mean, they said that he would never play rugby.

"He really is an incredible little boy and he's my hero."