Second row Beard complained of stomach pains the night before Wales left for the Far East on September 11 and when he arrived at Heathrow Airport it was decided he better not fly.
The 23-year-old returned to Cardiff and went to the Heath Hospital where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Within four hours of arriving he had surgery to have his appendix removed.
After making a full recovery Ospreys man Beard arrived in Japan ahead of Wales’ tournament opener with Georgia. He is continuing to work his way back to Test match fitness.
“On the Tuesday night before we left I started having stomach cramps just before travelling on the Wednesday. I didn’t think anything of it really,” Beard said.
“I text our doctor Geoff Davies when I got up on the Wednesday morning and said ‘I’ve got a bit of a bad stomach, can I have some tablets on the way up?’ He said ‘No problem.’
“We were travelling as a squad up to Heathrow and my stomach was getting worse and a bit more painful. When we got to Heathrow the doctors assessed me and when they were feeling around, it was a bit painful around the appendix. He felt I wasn’t fit enough to fly.
“I was lucky our bus driver was going back that way. I had a bus to myself on the way back, a big 52-seater! It drove up to the A&E entrance and I got out on my own. It must have been a bit weird for the people who were inside looking out! Fair play to the bus driver Andy Martin, I owe him a lot!
“I had to be seen back at the Heath in Cardiff. As Geoff expected it was appendicitis so I got in, had the operation, and it was successful. I’m on the mend now so I was lucky I didn’t get on the flight.
“It could have been dangerous if I’d got on the plane. The doctors were all saying that. They were saying they would probably have had to get the plane to make an emergency landing.
“I’m very lucky I didn’t get on that plane.”
Beard received brutal fines from his Wales team-mates for a late arrival, wearing the wrong kit, and losing weight when he did eventually turn up on tour.
He is doing double training sessions and eating 5,000 calories each day to get ready for Test rugby after losing four kilos while going under the knife.
Beard added: “My mother is a worrier and she was telling me not to fly, but my old man was like ‘Come on, man, it’s only an appendix out – get out there!’
“I’m a lot better than I was. I lost a bit of my appetite and a couple of kilograms in the process so I was given a bit of a free rein when I got out here. I could eat whatever I wanted.
“I’m doubling up on everything at every meal! Normally I’d have four eggs and two toast with breakfast, but now I’m having porridge and fruit too. When I first came out there was a McDonald’s close to our hotel and the staff were like ‘Just get it in you, have whatever you want!’
“I’m doing about 5,000 calories a day and at first my stomach was hurting because of how much I was eating! The steaks are really good out here and I have been smashing the sushi.”
Spirits are high in the Wales camp after wins over Georgia and crucially Australia put them in control of Pool D. Beard hopes to be fit for the clash with Fiji on Wednesday.
“I’m integrating back into training. First and foremost I know that health is the most important thing. I’m going to do my best to be up for selection,” he said.
“If it’s not meant to be it’s not and then hopefully I can be up for selection a few days later for Uruguay. The feeling in the camp is buzzing after two wins. We want to top this pool and there is no point in beating Australia if we don’t make it four from four.
“We’re definitely keeping our minds on Fiji and not looking too far ahead.”
