HEROIC mum Alison Branch had her arm broken while protecting her son from a rugby ball kicked by a top England international.

Mrs Branch, from Marlow Bottom, and James, six, were watching last Saturday's crunch tie between Wasps and Sale Sharks with husband, Ian, and daughter, Anna, four, when disaster struck.

The mother-of-two said: "It was about ten minutes into the game when, we think, Charlie Hodgson kicked for touch and I could see the ball flying towards James.

"I put my hand up to save him and when the ball hit my arm I knew straight away I had done something serious."

An initial check by paramedics at the Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe, saw Mrs Branch, 36, taken to Wycombe Hospital, but not before she told her husband to stay for the second half.

"I didn't think there was any point in having the two children wait in casualty so told Ian to watch the rest of the game," she said.

An X-ray confirmed a complete fracture of the radius, which has left her facing six weeks in plaster.

She added: "It was just one of those freak accidents but if the ball broke my arm you can only imagine what it would have done to James."

James said: "I think my mummy was very brave. I didn't even see the ball coming."

Undeterred, the family, of Highwoods Close,travelled to Twickenham on Saturday to see Wasps play Leicester in the Zurich Premiership final.

Sale have invited the family to Stockport to see next season's home fixture against Wasps.

Charlie Hodgson told the Free Press: "The last thing I want to do, kicking for touch, is to injure a spectator and I am sorry that Alison finished up with a broken arm.

"I look forward to meeting Alison and her family at Edgeley Park next year."