Paralysed rugby player sues opponent for £10m

AN AMATEUR women’s rugby player is being sued for £10 million after she allegedly left an opponent paralysed from the waist down following a tackle.

Dani Czernuszka, 34, from Reading, Berks, claims she broke her spine after Natasha King “belly-flopped” on to her during a match between her team Reading Sirens and Bracknell Ladies in October 2017, the High Court heard.

The “slightly-built” personal trainer claims that her “much heavier” opponent had earlier threatened she was “going to break me” after the pair clashed in the match at Sonning, near Reading.

She alleges Ms King was playing with “aggressive physicality”.

But lawyers for Ms King, from Bracknell, Berks, insist that the tackle was “perfectly proper” and that Ms Czernuszka had her hands on the ball when she tackled her.

The trial continues.