Teenage rugby player in coma after hard tackle

A teenager was in a critical condition in hospital last night with a serious head injury he received in a rugby match.

Matangi Te Wake, 15, of Panguru, Hokianga, was hurt when playing for Northland Under-15s against a New South Wales Country team on Saturday.

He was in an induced coma at Starship children's hospital in Auckland, after surgeons drained blood and fluid from his head after it was apparently struck by an opponent's knee during a tackle.

His parents, Henry and Adelaide Te Wake, and other relatives were at his bedside in the intensive-care unit.

Mr Te Wake said doctors had given no indication of the boy's chances of pulling through unscathed. "All we can do is wait."

Matangi was injured about 15 minutes into the match near Kawakawa. The Northland Under-15 coaching co-ordinator, former All Black Alastair Robinson, said Matangi, a wing, had gone in hard to tackle his opposite.

"He was absolutely committed to the tackle. He was like [All Black halfback] Piri Weepu. He knew he was going in the wrong way, he still wanted to stop the guy. It was just one of those accidents.

"We thought he was okay until someone said: 'He's not with it. He's not back into position.'

"I looked at him and he was out of it all right."

Matangi was substituted and an ice pack was applied to his head. He was checked regularly and appeared to be recovering. But when the game ended, with NSW winning 13-5, the injured boy deteriorated and coaching staff called an ambulance.

While waiting for it to arrive he seemed to lose consciousness, failing to respond to questions, Mr Robinson said.

While travelling to Whangarei, ambulance staff called the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter, which collected Matangi about 3.30pm and flew him to Whangarei Hospital. The helicopter took him to Starship at 6pm.

Northland Rugby Union chief executive Rob Malone said there had been no change in Matangi's condition yesterday. "We've got a union representative with the family today, to support the family."

He was expecting the coach's and referee's reports last night.

Former All Black Grahame Thorne, whose 20-year-old son David has been left unable to speak after suffering a suspected stroke following a tackle in a rugby match at Motueka on May 4, was sympathetic when told of Matangi's injury.

"The family will be going through hell, waiting, feeling helpless and always thinking the worst," he said.

"I remember going down the hospital corridor and crying."

David could now walk, but could not speak, read or write. He required 24-hour care.

"Recovery will be a long slow process. If rugby was a business, OSH would probably close it down because of the number of injuries," Mr Thorne said.

However, ACC says its injury prevention programme RugbySmart which has been delivered in partnership with the New Zealand Rugby Union has helped reduce injuries.

ACC media adviser Laurie Edwards said the corporation's 2005-06 annual report says claim rates per 100,000 rugby players were down 10 per cent for the year to the lowest rate in ACC history. "Relatively, rugby is becoming safer," he said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE / STAFF REPORTER