PEISAA calls off this week’s rugby games across P.E.I.

There will be no P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) rugby games played this week.

The decision was announced on Monday, after Montague Vikings’ Grade 12 player Brodie McCarthy died on Sunday. The high school athlete suffered a serious head injury in a game during the 22nd annual David Voye Memorial rugby tournament at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside on Friday evening.

“Out of respect for Brodie McCarthy’s family, out of respect for the Montague school community and out of respect for the entire rugby community, all games this week are cancelled,” PEISAA school sport co-ordinator Phil Bridges told the Journal Pioneer Monday. “Teams will be able to practise, but all games have been called off.”

Bridges confirmed the Montague boys’ and girls’ teams have withdrawn from their respective PEISAA leagues for the rest of the 2018 season.

“Our thoughts right now are with the family, the Montague community, rugby community and to make any decision further down the road is way too soon,” said Bridges.

Other PEISAA sports will continue as scheduled this week, but Bridges noted the Montague senior girls’ softball game in Morell on Monday evening was postponed. After learning on Saturday that McCarthy was placed on life support, the final two Voye tournament games — Tier 1 girls’ and boys’ championships — were cancelled.

A post on the Montague Regional High School website on Saturday described the injury as a “freak accident,” and witnesses at the game told the Journal Pioneer the injury happened on what appeared to be a regular, clean rugby play.

McCarthy walked off the field after the play and was talking to his teammates and coach. A short while after he collapsed and was transported by ambulance to Prince County Hospital and then to Moncton, where he underwent surgery.