Crowe asked to cover Geyer's injury costs

SYDNEY - Former rugby league star Mark Geyer has called on Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe to cover his medical costs for injuries he received in a celebrity tournament.

The former Test and Penrith player told The Daily Telegraph he wants the New Zealand actor to pay A$10,000 ($10,890.87) after an incident during the tournament in which he broke his leg while playing in the Orara Valley Sevens, an event organised by Crowe on January 22 this year.

Geyer has not worked since the injury and said a mistake he made in insurance paperwork had left him uninsured.

He claims his appearance in the league tournament has left him $38,000 out of pocket and that he's seeking $10,000 from the multi-millionaire Hollywood star to cover medical costs and loss of earnings.

With nothing forthcoming from the actor as yet, Crowe's bodyguard, Mark Carroll, another former Test player, has stepped in, offering $5,000 of his own money to help cover Geyer's costs.

However, Geyer rejected the offer because of his friendship with Carroll.

NRL chief executive David Gallop said his organisation would cover Geyer's costs but first needed to talk to a few other parties to understand their position.

The event, in which Crowe participated, attracted 10 former international players.

"It was a gesture of goodwill to go up there and play. Russell put his name up for the tournament and now he won't back it up. He has changed his tune pretty quickly," Geyer told The Telegraph.

"I'd like to think he could come to the party. He said he has nothing to do with the event any more.

"The crowd was about 4,000 to 5,000 because of the players that were there.

"Russell gets all the pats on the back but we were the ones that played."

- AAP