Ten hospitalised in NSW seven-car pile up

Ten people, including two children, have been hospitalised after a multiple car pile up on a motorway north of Sydney.

The accident happened on the northbound lane of the M1 Motorway, south of the Hawkesbury River Bridge just before 10pm on Wednesday.

A 66-year-old man sustained chest and head injury and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but has since been stabilised.

Newcastle Knights player Pauli Pauli was reportedly among those injured in the seven car crash.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined.