Former Cronulla Sharks and London Broncos fullback Nathan Stapleton is said to be in hospital in serious condition with a suspected broken neck.
Stapleton is currently in Royal North Shore Hospital having sustained a serious spinal injury playing country rugby union for Boorowa against West Wyalong last weekend.
During that game, the 32-year-old was said to have caught himself awkwardly in the ruck, with his neck and spine taking the full brunt.
A female nurse who was a spectator at the ground began immediately treating Stapleton, with claims that the player turned blue and so a defibrillator had to be used.
He has since been moved to the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards, with Stapleton now undergoing further spinal tests.
Stapleton remains in a critical condition.
Stapleton played 61 NRL games for the Sharks between 2009 and 2014 and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2012.
He then joined the Sydney Roosters before registering just two appearances for the London Broncos in 2016 who were then in the second tier of UK rugby league.
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