Two boys were flown to hospital at the weekend after being injured in a rugby match played at the same high school where a Palmerston North boy was seriously injured last month.
However, unlike Awatapu College player Nathanael "Nat" Manville who is still in hospital, the two Tararua College students - both believed to be 16 - are understood to be back at home, their injuries not as serious as first feared.
The boys collided during a match between Tararua College and Dannevirke High School 1st XVs at Pahiatua just before 2pm on Saturday and were airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital by rescue helicopter as a precaution since the attending paramedic did not want to risk taking them by ambulance.
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said initially one of the players was seriously injured, while the other suffered minor injuries.
Paramedics stabilised them before the Palmerston North rescue helicopter airlifted them to Palmerston North Hospital, pilot Lance Burns said. Burns also said that it initially appeared one of the boys had a serious head injury, while the other was able to walk to the helicopter and was speaking to medics.
Tararua College board of trustees chairwoman Claire Matthews said yesterday both boys were recovering at home by Saturday night. For privacy reasons, she would not release their names.
"People leaped to conclusions because they were airlifted to hospital, but I think it's fair to say that they are not as serious as the initial perceptions," she said.
"I've certainly been speaking to the family of our student and he's home, he's fine."
One of the players injured was Jacob Bennett, who took to Facebook when he got home to fill his mates in on his ordeal.
"Thanks for all the support guys. I just got knocked out and I have pulled the tendons in my jaw," he wrote. "I will be just taking it easy for a couple of days."
His mother, Megan Bennett, posted photos on her Facebook page of Jacob in the rescue helicopter. "Jacob off to Palmy Hospital as a precaution. Only got a ride because of the other boy. Concussion and something wrong with his jaw. Hasn't stopped him talking."
Manawatū Rugby Union chief executive John Knowles described the incident as a "head clash" but confirmed the injuries were not as serious as initially thought.
He said last month's incident, in which Manville, an Awatapu College year 13 student, sustained a serious neck injury, was still fresh in people's minds.
It was understood that one of the boys hurt at the weekend may have suffered a concussion in the past.
Manville, 18, fractured his fifth cervical vertebra during a ruck while playing for Awatapu's first XV against Tararua College on May 17.
He was flown to Palmerston North Hospital before being transferred to Christchurch Hospital where he was waiting to be moved to Burwood Hospital's spinal unit.
He remains in the intensive care unit at Christchurch Hospital after having surgery on his neck.
He had bone grafted from his hip to help fix the fracture and plates inserted at the fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae to provide support.
An intubation tube was removed from his throat and a tracheotomy inserted, allowing him to speak in short bursts.
Source: Manawatū Standard and The New Zealand Herald
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