Fava convulses after rugby sevens hit - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Fava convulses after rugby sevens hit

By Jim Morton 17/03/2006 10:56:52 PM Comments (0)

Wallabies back-rower Scott Fava suffered a worrying head injury to put a dampener on the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens tournament, won for a third straight time by New Zealand.

The Kiwis, gold medallists in 1998 and 2002, continued their domination of the helter-skelter game, with a 29-21 final defeat of England at Telstra Dome.

Backed by the support of thousands of expats, Highlanders flanker Josh Blackie scored twice as Amasio Valence led the way in the five-tries-to-three win.

NZ progressed to the final after holding off Australia 21-19 in a brutal semi-final.

Injury-hit Australia finished the bronze-medal play-off against Fiji with just six players to lose 24-17.

But just before the final, the near-capacity Telstra Dome crowd was silenced for almost 10 minutes as Fava was given expert medical attention.

The Western Force recruit was stretchered off on an medicab, surrounded by a dozen Games attendants showing great concern, and taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

He was palmed off by the Fijian hooker soon after being injected into the fray as a late replacement and he appeared to suffer convulsions after the back of his head hit the ground heavily.

A team spokesman said Fava was later reported in a stable condition and undergoing a series of tests.

Fava's wife ran onto the field as he lay on the ground and was in tears as she left the field beside the medicab.

"He's had some sort of fit out there but hopefully he's okay," said coach Glen Ella.

"He seems to have come out of it but he's a bit ga-ga and he doesn't know where he is.

"It's been a long time since I've seen someone taken off like that."

Teammate Lote Tuqiri said the injury had been worrying.

"He was convulsing, it all got a bit emotional with his wife coming out," said Tuqiri.

Former English Test centre Matthew Tait was arguably the player of the tournament with nine tries.

The moment of the final day was when the bare-chested Kenyans joined with the Tongans in an impromptu war-dance in front of the cheering crowd after the Africans' Bowl final win.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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