A RUGBY player was rushed to hospital after being stabbed during a game in South Africa on Saturday.
The match was subsequently abandoned with the referees “too traumatised” to continue.
ReutersA rugby game was abandoned after a player was stabbed[/caption]
League A side Never Despair took on Porterville at Alfa Street Stadium in the town of Malmesbury, around 40 miles north of Cape Town.
During half-time of the clash, a player was stabbed by a spectator.
The perpetrator was subsequently chased by the home chairman and injured player’s team-mates.
Following a night in hospital, the stabbed player was discharged on Sunday.
Boland Rugby Union president Bennie van Rooi addressed the incident in an official statement.
It read: “The Boland Rugby Union mourns the shocking incident yesterday during a League A match between Never Despair and Porterville at the Alfa street stadium in Malmesbury where a player from the home club (Never Despair) was stabbed with a knife on the field during the half-time break.
“The union immediately reached out to the Never Despair rugby community to assist in any way possible.
“The chairman of Never Despair chased after the culprit, and with the help of players, the person was detained and handed over to SAPS.
“The vice-chairman of the club, Mr James Davids, a paramedic, attended to the wounded player until he was taken to hospital by ambulance. The player was discharged from hospital today (Sunday).
“After a discussion between management of the two clubs and match officials, the match was called off because the referees were too traumatised to go ahead.
“Randall Swarts, the chairman of the visiting club, confirmed to Boland Rugby that his club was satisfied that the host club’s safety procedures were in order, with security visible.
“The traumatic events, even though isolated, are viewed in a very serious light by the union.
“The union immediately discussed the incident with the club in order to obtain a detailed report.”