Tragically a Newcastle Gr.11 schoolboy has passed away as a result of an injury sustained during a trial match on Tuesday. The accident is being investigated but it’s believed that he sustained a fatal neck injury after being tackled.
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@Playa: Agree with you there must be difficult for the boy who made the tackle.
Absolutely tragic. Condolences to his parents, while thinking of his team mates, coach and the tackler. God bless.
This is tragic.
My condolensces to family and friends of this young man.
Just as important, may the fellow who made the tackle not spend the rest of his life blaming himself.I hope everyone involved finds peace.No life deserves to be lost in this way.
My condolences to all those who are mourning him. This will have a huge impact on the school and the community.
I have often seen rugby practices and trials happening without medical personnel on sight. It is no good having this on the other side of the school in the secretary’s office – it needs to be right next to the field. No idea whether that would have prevented this death but the type of injury incurred is usually made worse by non-medical people getting involved.
@Gungets Tuft: I forgot about him – there was also the Brumbies player who died in Durban after a car accident too (not on the field – but while on tour here).
I would not wish this on my worst enemy very sad day
@Rugger fan: Didn’t a young Irish guy die in the Junior World Cup in South Africa a few years back as well. The Irish team pulled out. Cormac McAnallen???
http://www.thecormactrust.com/cormacs-profile/
Different though, he died of a congenital heart defect
Max Brito (Ivory Coast in RWC 95) too. so sad.
Condolences. Nobody likes to hear this news. Apart from the family, thoughts also with the team mates – the poor guy who made the tackle, the ref and coaches too. May they too forgive themselves…… I’m sure this is extremely tough to live with.
@Greenwood: Same here, Vleis Visagie made the unfortunate tackle if memory serves me right. Rumour had it that they had to break a door down on which he was carried off.
Ploegskaar – Thanks for the correction – still clearly remember that afternoon
@Greenwood: Chris Burger.
Sad news this – Condolences as well to the family
the lightie at Glenwood wants to play rugby again – the boykie is big but not fit – but a good cricketer though – we were talking about him playing rugby again last nite and I was against it because he is not fit and he wants to be in the scrum 1.96m and 96 Kg – No ways this will happen
who remembers what happened to Chris Huenis playing fullback for Province against Free State that tragic Saturday afternoon live on TV ? a reminder to all as just how dangerous Rugby can be
Condolences to the family. So tragic. Any parents worst nightmare.
@GreenBlooded: Agree there this could be a result of school not having the coaches to teach the kids correctly
I don’t mean any disrespect by using this tragedy to emphasise a point – but it is the TACKLE area that needs attention by the law-makers, not the SCRUM ENGAGEMENT. I think a few seasons of red-cards for any high or late tackle might bring the point crashing home. It has worked very successfully to stamp out the spear tackle so why not the rest?
There is also the problem of coaching – and it goes hand in hand with the exit of rugger-bugger male teacher/coaches from the teaching profession. We in the junior club structures are VERY conscious of the tackle and how to coach it correctly. It sends cold shivers down my spine to watch schoolboys consistently getting their head on the wrong side – a tragedy waiting to happen. I think the major schools get it right in the upper teams – but is the 3rd team in a Tier 2 school getting it right? The Boksmart initiative has gone to great lengths to get it right across the board but I think there is still more that needs to be done.
That is tragic news
@Greenblooded, that is tragic news. Condolences to the family and school.
@GreenBlooded: Eeeisch, it gives you the horrors. Got that sort of fright last year when we were phoned to say our son was in an ambulance on his way to hospital in PMB. It is hard to describe the thoughts you have. Can only imagine the sheer desperation of that call and the aftermath, effects on family and team mates.
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/newcastle/newcastle-news-general?oid=6809314&sn=Detail&pid=4596138&Rugby-accident-claims-the-life-of-NHS-pupil
The Mercury – Pg 2: School Rugby Death Probed.
17 year old boy died at Newcastle High School during trials yesterday. Didn’t get up after a tackle. How absolutely tragic in every way. Feel for the poor guys family – his name was Bongukuhle Langa.