Rush recuperates after clot scare

Eric Rush

A life-threatening blood clot means Eric Rush will not be in Queenstown to guide Auckland in this weekend's national sevens rugby tournament.

Rush, who coached Auckland to their first sevens title in 14 years last year, has just returned home after two weeks of hospital treatment for a clot that lodged in his lung and almost killed him.

The former New Zealand sevens captain was not taking calls, but Auckland Rugby Union operations manager Dave Syms said Rush was in good spirits.

"He had a combination of an infection and a blood clot that was already in his system. The blood clot travelled and lodged in his lung.

"He now has to be under close supervision for a period of time.

"He's banned from flying because of it but he's expected to make a full recovery in the fullness of time," Syms said.

The clot was detected when Rush was being treated for a small cut on a knuckle that had become infected just after Christmas. He was rushed into intensive care.

His recovery could take up to six months.

Rush had been widely tipped to succeed Gordon Tietjens as the national coach after the Commonwealth Games in March.

Former Samoan international To'o Vaega has stepped in as Auckland coach.

- NZPA