Brumbies Super 14 rugby player Shawn Mackay is coming out of his coma and spinal surgery went well, a team spokesman said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old forward was hit by a car outside a Durban nightclub on Sunday morning.

"The team doctor has reported Shawn is coming out of the coma," team spokesman Nick Smith said in a statement.

"The surgery on his spine went as well as possible and his spine is now stable.

"He has responded to simple questions through blinking his eyes.

"It's still too early to expect much else at this stage and the ongoing process and any development is likely to be a slow process."

Mackay had been in a medically induced coma.

He suffered a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a fractured skull as well as a broken leg and multiple facial fractures and lacerations when he was hit by a car.

The incident occurred about 4.15am Durban time on Sunday when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies were leaving a nightclub, having wound down after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks on Saturday night.

Mackay's parents, John and Leonie, and girlfriend Trish flew to South Africa on Tuesday to be by his side.

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