INSPIRATIONAL comebacks do not come much greater than Jimmer Courtney's dream to wear the yellow and blue of Swindon Rugby Club a year after facing death.

But he side stepped the grim reaper and he is set to reach that dream with the help from friend and Swindon colleague Danny Webb, who has also battled back to the fringes of first team action after suffering paralysis from a neurological illness.

Webb was visited by Courtney when he was in the Prince Margaret Hospital three years ago and was offered any help or advice.

Webb and Courtney, both 28, attended Dorcan School together and have helped each other through the gradual process of recovery in a set of comebacks that, if pulled off, would impress the red half of Merseyside.

Scrum half Courtney was hospitalised with Guillain-Barre syndrome a rare post-viral disease of the nervous system last April after he suffered glandular fever.

It left him barely able to move and sent his body weight descending by four stone as he hallucinated on the amount of drugs doctors were pumping into him.

He was left in hospital on a ventilator and could only dream of pulling on his boots and running out for the Greenbridge Road club.

It was the same for prop Webb who was originally misdiagnosed with an ear infection in March 2001 before he took himself from hospital when already beginning to suffer from paralysis.

A mixture of friends and family has helped both these players through with Courtney looking to return to action this season and Webb receiving the Most Improved Player of the Year award for the one just gone.

They are now both up and walking but cannot wait to be at the level they used to play at regularly.

"I'm 28 so I have to start all over again like I am 14. I have been playing in Swindon's first team since I was 19 so I've had a good run but it is what it means in terms of my recovery," said Courtney.

"It means a hell of a lot to play again because my life revolves around rugby because of everyone I know in the game. I miss the smell of the deep heat in the changing rooms."

A three-and-a-half week spell in intensive care at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford was followed by four more months' treatment at the Great Western Hospital nearer to his family.

Courtney met up with Oxford United midfielder Jamie Brooks who suffered the same illness at the same time when he was 17.

Brooks, now 22, has become a firm friend of Courtney's.

"When I had total paralysis he came in and saw me. He looked the picture of health, like a lean, mean footballer, and that gave me a massive boost," said the scrum half.

"It made me think I could do it to see someone else who had gone through the same problems and we still see each other now.

"Your body is amazing. When I first started moving my arms again and was trying to clap you could feel all the nerves tingling and retraining themselves.

"Even to when I first had to walk with my fianc Kelly keeping her hands either side to guide me. I was over the moon with that because it meant I could walk again.

"I have got a very strong family and Kelly has been absolutely brilliant and helped me through it so much.

"And so have the club. They have been like a second family to me."

When Courtney's illness became serious the club stepped in to help by auctioning signed rugby balls and shirts including that of England World Cup winner Josh Lewsey which had come flooding in.

Over 40 teams from across the west also played in a special six-a-side tournament and Swindon College Old Boys chipped in to help.

He even got a signed photo from drop goal hero, Jonny Wilkinson, a gift organised by his workmates at loft conversion business, Acenti.

Courtney added: "It was amazing to get a picture from such a great player. He signed it, 'To Jimmer, from one player to another. In admiration of you, your friend Jonny Wilkinson.'"

Webb has also found it hard to stay away from rugby: "It's brilliant to play again and be involved. I missed the banter and the social aspect, having a laugh with your mates from other clubs before battering them to pieces. It will be great to line up with Jimmer again."

Webb said it was a long hard process to get back to fitness: "I started training again about a year afterwards but I was not right.

"Because my vision was quite badly affected I did find it hard to change focus.

"Playing rugby again was a big incentive when I was starting physio.

"When I was at the lowest point of the illness I wondered whether I was going to be able to walk again.

"But with rugby and other sports, as Jimmer will agree, you get that competitive edge and you become willing to fight against anything. I think that helped."