South Sydney NRL Star Sam Burgess Is Released From Hospital
NRL star Sam Burgess has been released from hospital following his sickening injury scare during Sunday's game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra.
The 27-year-old had been rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a neck brace after colliding with Dragons player Mike Cooper.
But immediate MRI and CT scans showed no damage to the vertebrae or spinal cord and further assessments were also positive, with Burgess finally discharged on Tuesday afternoon.
The England international is expected to make a full recovery, although it is highly unlikely he will feature for the Rabbitohs in the Good Friday game against Canterbury Bulldogs.
Scroll down for video
NRL star Sam Burgess has been stretchered off the field with a suspected neck injury in the South Sydney Rabbitohs round three clash at the SCG on Sunday
On Monday, South Sydney coach Michael Maguire said: ‘We're all very happy to know that Sam hasn't suffered any serious injuries from yesterday's game.
‘I spoke to Sam and he feels very lucky and he wants to thank the medical staff from both the Rabbitohs and Dragons for their professionalism, the doctors and hospital staff who cared for him last night and this morning, as well as the Members and fans for their support and kind words.
‘We will continue to monitor Sam's welfare and he knows he is in the best of hands with our medical staff as we move forward.'
Burgess has said he was 'extremely lucky' to avoid a serious neck injury after a horror tackle which saw him clash heads with opponent Cooper.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs back-rower was stretchered off the field in a neck brace and rushed to hospital with his wife Phoebe in the front seat of the ambulance.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs back-rower was seen in tears as he was treated by medics on the pitch at the round-four clash with St George-Illawarra
[ ] The South Sydney Rabbitohs captain was seen lying on the pitch for several minutes as he was treated by medics
Burgess revealed that initial scans on his injury had not highlighted any significant damage, saying the results were 'positive'
The South Sydney Rabbitohs back-rower was rushed to hospital in an ambulance with his wife Phoebe Hooke (right) in the front seat
His mother Julie was seen in tears in the stands as the 27-year-old lay on the turf at the southern end of the ground for several minutes as he was treated by medics
Russell Crowe, the South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner, was seen looking concerned from the stands
Burgess revealed that initial scans on his injury had not highlighted any significant damage, saying the results were 'positive'.
He tweeted: 'Initial scan results are positive. Thank you all for messages of support - feeling extremely lucky tonight. A few days of rest now. Sam.'
The British powerhouse went down in the 50th minute of the NRL clash with St George-Illawarra after an awkward tackle by fellow-Englishman Cooper at the SCG.
Burgess appeared to lower his head as he ran the ball up to a wall of Dragons defenders and, upon impact, immediately fell to the ground.
RELATED ARTICLES [# Previous] [# 1] [# Next] [/sport/formulaone/article-3500927/Australian-GP-LIVE-F1-race-results-Lewis-Hamilton-Nico-Rosberg-battle-Mercedes-Formula-1-Grand-Prix-spot.html Australian Grand Prix LIVE F1: Lewis Hamilton starts on pole...] [/news/article-3500896/Sydney-designer-Johanna-Johnson-embroiled-legal-dispute-25-000.html Australian designer famous for her custom-made gowns who...]
Share this article
Share
His mother Julie was seen breaking down in tears and being comforted by Phoebe in the stands as the 27-year-old lay on the turf in clear discomfort.
South Sydney head coach Michael Maguire revealed that Burgess was in 'a good frame of mind' following the sickening collision.
'At the moment he has gone for scans, the doctor was pretty positive which is good news,' Mr Maguire told the press conference.
'He had a bit of tingling down one arm and they go through all the right processes when you have an incident like that.
Trailing the St George Illawarra Dragons 8-6, the back-rower took a hit up metres out from the Dragons' line
Burgess went down in the 50th minute of the match against St George Illawarra, with the Dragons leading 8-6, in a legal tackle by Mike Cooper
The rugby league superstar appeared to duck his head as he braced for contact with Cooper and after falling to the ground, he didn't get back up
Dragons players involved in the tackle showed immediate concern for the Englishman, and the game was halted
'From what I've been told they were positive when they put him in the ambulance, so we'll have to wait and see about the scans.
'Sammie is in a pretty good head space from what I was told, so I look forward to chatting to him later and finding out where he's at.'
Burgess was seen lying on the turf for several minutes as he was treated by medical personnel before being taken off on a stretcher and rushed to the nearby St Vincent's Hospital.
An eerie silence fell over the Sydney Cricket Ground and a concerned co-owner Russell Crowe was seen looking on from the stands after the collision.
The actor later said that Burgess is expected to be 'fine'.
Cooper has spoken about the moment of impact and said he hoped the back-rower would be 'alright'.
'He came on to the ball at 100mph, as he always does. I was straight in front of him. He knocked me flying,' Cooper said, according to the [ ].
'To be honest with you I blacked out a little bit because he knocked me straight on my backside. As soon as I got up I saw he was on the floor so I didn't know what was going on, to be honest.
'I got a stinger on my left shoulder. I hope he is fine.
'I hope everything is all right and he has a speedy recovery.'
Paramedics said that the England rugby league star does not appear to have pins and needles in his arms and legs, but he did complain of 'soreness and tingling' between his shoulder blades
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire told Nine News that doctors were confident Burgess was going to be 'ok'
The South Sydney Rabbitohs captain has been loaded onto an ambulance in a neck brace and taken to hospital following an awkward tackle
The game was halted while the English rugby league star was treated for suspected neck injuries
Footage of the collision showed that Burgess was able to move his arms and legs before he was taken from the field on a medi-cab
His mother Julie was seen breaking down in tears and being comforted by the star's wife Phoebe Hooke
Footage of the sickening collision showed that Burgess was able to move his arms and legs before he was taken from the field on a medi-cab.
Paramedics said the rugby league star complained of 'soreness and tingling' between his shoulder blades but in more positive signs said he did not have pins and needles in his arms and legs.
Mr Maguire said Burgess was in 'a bit of pain' after getting compressed 'pretty heavily' in what was his third game back following a nine-month stint in rugby union with Bath and England.
'I am no doctor but when you have an incident like that I'd imagine you are looking for all movements,' he said.
Skipper Greg Inglis told the press conference about the moment he realised Burgess was hurt.
'When he's lying there motionless it is pretty worrying,' he said.
The English superstar is believed to have been awake and aware of the situation when he was taken away in an ambulance.
He was met by a team of doctors at the emergency department of St Vincent's Hospital after he arrived in an ambulance with his wife and brother Tom.
Burgess' younger brother George then made the brave decision to take his place on the field.
A number of high-profile players took to social media to show their support for the former England rugby union centre.
Sonny Bill Williams tweeted: 'God willing it's nothing serious my man @SamBurgess8'
South Sydney Rabbitohs head coach Michael Maguire (pictured) said the back-rower is in 'a good frame of mind' and doctors are hopeful he will be ok
The doctors made sure Burgess didn't move as they put him on a stretcher, before he was taken off on a medicab and then taken to hospital
The English star's brother George then made the brave decision to take his place on the field
Dragons fullback Josh Dugan, who was close to the incident when it happened, wrote: 'Good effort and great win today in tough conditions! Hoping @SamBurgess8 is all good and https://soulofcricketer.blogspot.com/2020/06/cricket-player-russell-wife.html nothing serious! #speedyrecovery #ontothenext.'
DannyCipriani tweeted: 'Pray you're ok brother @SamBurgess8'
Alex Corbisiero said: 'Wishing the best for you @SamBurgess8'
Northampton Saints player Tom Wood said: 'Hoping @SamBurgess8 is ok after being stretchered earlier.'
Rugby League Players' Association CEO Ian Prendergast tweeted: 'Thoughts are with @SamBurgess8 & family. Always a concern to see players get injured, but especially of that nature.'
Burgess has since thanked his fans, friends and fellow sportsman for their messages of support in his tweet which has more than 1,000 likes.
The serious incident overshadowed what was a tough, grinding game of rugby league at the rain-drenched iconic venue before 17,824 fans.
The Dragons claimed an 8-6 victory - leaving the Rabbitohs with their first loss of the season.
He was loaded onto a stretcher and taken to hospital within minutes of the awkward tackle at the SCG
The collision cast a hushed silence over the SCG and a concerned co-owner Russell Crowe was seen looking on from the stands
The English star's brother George Burgess (pictured) then made the brave decision to take his place on the field
Dragons coach Paul McGregor said his side had returned to their defence-based play that was so successful last season after losses to Melbourne and Cronulla over the first two rounds.
'We responded really well, I could not be prouder,' he said.
'We have been copping it a bit especially about last week's result.
'Last week was out of chart and the way they responded in those conditions was outstanding ... those conditions you don't get much worse.'
Burgess, who is originally from West Yorkshire, tied the knot with Phoebe Hooke at her parents' sprawling home in Bowral, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, in December last year.
They got engaged when the Rabbitohs star popped the question during a romantic holiday in Greece.
The pair moved back to Phoebe's native Australia after a brief stint in Bath where he played rugby union for the past year before rejoining Souths.
NRL star Sam Burgess has been stretchered off with a suspected neck injury in the South Sydney Rabbitohs round three clash at the SCG on Sunday
Just hours before the game, Phoebe Burgess posted a picture with her husband on Instagram saying: 'It's pre-game spag bol night'
The rugby league superstar tied the knot with Phoebe Hooke (pictured together) in December last year
A number of high-profile players took to social media to show their support for the former England rugby union centre
data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links">
Read more:
[ Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess stretchered off field with possible neck injury - 9news.com.au]
[ No Cookies | Daily Telegraph]
[ VIDEO, PHOTOS: Rabbitohs Sam Burgess Neck Injury Against Dragons | NRL | Triple M]
DM.later('bundle', function()
DM.has('external-source-links', 'externalLinkTracker');
);
