A rugby player believed to have Britain’s biggest feet has been sidelined – because he can’t find a new pair of size 21 boots.
Carl Griffiths, 22, has worn out his last pair playing for his village rugby team.
Carl has been playing in size 18 boots for the past three years – with his toes curled up in the ends – to turn out for his local club.
But after keeping them together with black sticky tape, they have finally fallen apart.
He is now appealing for help to find a new pair of boots that fit.
Carl said: “At least when you have an injury, you know you just can’t play for a while.
“But when I’m out just because of not having shoes that fit, it’s just really frustrating. I just want to play rugby.
“I’ve had some boots in size 18 and I wore them with my toes curled right up, but I broke a toe when someone stepped on it.”
6ft 8in with size 21 feet... so he's good in the lineout
Carl, from Carmarthenshire, has been forced to sit on the bench for local club Trimsaran RFC, which has been missing the 6ft 8in player in the team’s line-outs.
Every sports firm Carl has contacted has said they simply do not make boots as big as size 21.
Help Carl get a pair of boots that fit!
Carl said: “I did get a quote from one company to specially make a pair but it would cost well over £300.
“I don’t get a lot of answers from the big companies so I am hoping a smaller sports company can help me out.
“I’m 22 and I think I have stopped growing now so a new pair of boots that fit should last a while.”
Carl first hit the headlines in 2007 when, as a 14-year-old, he had size 18 feet.
Carl’s feet grew while he was taking life-saving medication for leukaemia, before he was given the all-clear.
At the time, he said: “Steroids normally stunt your growth, the doctors don’t know what it is. They are quite shocked”
Words and pictures: Wales News Service
