Rugby players from Suburbs Rugby Club and Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club formed a human shield and sang songs in support of their injured teammate during Saturday’s club rugby game. The player collapsed during the Premier Development match, and the teams formed a wall to protect him while he received life-saving CPR from paramedics. The Premier game, scheduled to follow after the development match, was called off while the player was transported to Auckland Hospital for treatment.
According to a spectator at the game, it was the second week in a row that a player had collapsed during a match. The parent of another Suburbs player said it was pretty freaky to see a player on the ground and added that he had to hold back tears. He was impressed to see players from the opposition club, Manukau, also join in the human shield to protect the injured player.
The players sang a Fijian hymn called Noqu Masu, which is often sung in church and during sports events. It is a gesture of support and compassion that has gained attention worldwide.
The injured player is believed to have suffered a seizure and stopped breathing before members of the public performed CPR and paramedics arrived. The news comes after another Suburbs player collapsed on the field the previous week, and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain.
The father of a teammate said his son was pretty shaken up after the incident, following what happened to another teammate the week before. He added that he fears for his son’s safety as the games are pretty rough.
NZ Rugby’s general manager of community rugby expressed their condolences and provided support to the families. They also addressed the potential impact on witnesses and advised them to reach out to the New Zealand Rugby Foundation for support.
The incidents have raised concerns about player safety in contact sports, such as rugby and football. It is vital to prioritize the safety and health of players and ensure adequate medical support is available during matches.
The rugby community has shown support and compassion for their injured teammates, demonstrating the camaraderie and respect that the sport instills. The heartwarming gesture of the team singing to their fallen comrade serves as a reminder of the power of humanity in times of hardship.
