Wales wing Chris Czekaj shows the pain of his broken leg in Brisbane

Czekaj fractured his femur - one of the strongest bones in the human body - during Wales's second Test defeat to Australia in Brisbane on 2 June.

He has been ruled out of action for at least a year but he said: "You can only be positive in a situation like this.

"I'm only 21 so hopefully it's not going to make much difference to my career. I'm in a good frame of mind."

Czekaj lay in agony on the field after his right leg twisted badly as his studs were caught in the turf while tackled by Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore.

A collective groan reverberated around the stadium as the crowd saw a slow-motion replay of the incident on the giant screens.

I can't wait to get back in the gym. I've lying here for a week and it does take its toll on your muscles Chris Czekaj

Such was the severity of the injury, the surgeon who operated on the Cardiff Blues winger said he had only seen two similar injuries in his 30-year orthopaedic career - and both were the result of motorcycle accidents.

"I remember falling over and hearing a big crack," Czekaj told BBC Wales Sport from his hospital bed in Brisbane.

"I think most people in the front row could hear the crack. I was then lying on the floor in agony.

"Most people thought I'd injured my knee by the way I fell, and I don't really know how my femur broke."

Czekaj has been consigned to his hospital bed since the operation, which involved inserting a pin from his hip down to his knee, held in place by a number of screws.

Czekaj hopes to leave hospital in Brisbane within the next week

He hopes to be released from hospital next week once he gets used to walking on crutches.

The 6ft 3ins winger will then head straight up the Sunshine Coast with his fianc�e Kath Roberts to Noosa where he has been given use of a beach house belonging to one of doctors who tended to him at the Suncorp Stadium.

"At least I'll get some kind of holiday out of all this," he joked.

Despite seeing his hopes of playing in the World Cup shattered, Czekaj sounded remarkably upbeat as he gave his first interview since the injury.

As well as having his fianc�e by his side ("she's got a reclining chair she's very comfortable in!"), Czekaj said the messages of support from Wales have helped maintain his spirits.

He is also taking inspiration from Wales and Blues team-mate Robin Sowden-Taylor, who recovered from a dislocated ankle in less than six months to join him on the tour to Australia.

"People have been telling me to look at him and how he recovered quickly from a horrendous injury," said Czekaj, tipped as a star of the future by New Zealand great Jonah Lomu.

You just have to deal with it and try to get back playing rugby as soon as possible Chris Czekaj

"The pain hasn't been that bad to be honest. I do have a pain, an annoying sort of pain, but it hasn't been too bad considering the extent of the injury."

Czekaj's fine form in only his second season with the Blues earned him his Six Nations debut for Wales this year.

His performances, which included eight tries, were also rewarded with a contract extension at the Arms Park.

He realises the road to recovery will be long and arduous, but the grandson of a Second World War Polish immigrant is already itching to get back into the gym.

"Because it's such a bad break, it's going to take longer to heal than a normal break," he said.

"I've been told in six to 12 weeks I'll be able to go on a bike lightly. That's pretty good news because I can keep my fitness as high as possible.

"I can't wait to get back in the gym. I've lying here for a week and it does take its toll on your muscles - they weaken quite quickly.

"It has been a really good season for me. I've played a lot of games and it was all going really well, but something like this can happen to anyone.