Rugby player has jaw operation after ‘attack’ during game
A RUGBY player had to undergo a four-hour operation after his jaw was broken in a match.
The player was allegedly attacked by another player while he stood away from the action in a game.
South Wales Police are investigating and the WRU has been made aware of the incident, in which Ferryside second row Christopher Rogers was hurt in a match against Pontardawe RFC.
Councillor Peter Thomas, chairman of Ferryside Rugby Club, who was playing on the day, said: “Christopher Rogers suffered a broken jaw during the game between Ferryside RFC and Pontardawe RFC on Saturday afternoon. All of us at Ferryside RFC hope he recovers soon.”
Mr Rogers underwent surgery on Sunday, and was expected to be discharged on Monday afternoon.
Mr Thomas added: “He was in surgery for about four hours. He’s going to be on a liquid diet for six weeks.
“It was outrageous, he was standing just away from the ruck. There was a sound like a tree branch breaking and I stopped play immediately.
“I was on the phone to the ambulance operator and they said in the state I’d described him in we were better off getting him in a car and down to Morriston Hospital, as we weren’t that far away.
“I left his gumshield in, I didn’t want to take it out because his jaw was hanging off his face, and they X-rayed him with it in.”
Cefneithin RFC have shown their support, commenting on a post on the Ferryside RFC Facebook page: “No place for that in rugby. Get well soon.”
A spokesman for South Wales Police said they received a report of an alleged assault on October 15, at 9.46am, “in connection with an incident the previous day (3.30pm)”.
“If witnesses have any information please contact 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence 1700401165,” he said.
A WRU spokesman said: “We have been in touch with Ferryside and outlined the complaints procedure to them, explaining they have 14 days in which to report an incident. As far as we are aware, we have not received an official complaint from them yet.”
Pontardawe RFC declined to comment.