Wallabies send touching video message to Sydney scaffolder after horror injury
The Australian rugby community is rallying around a star player who suffered a horror neck injury in a game on Saturday.
Playing against Sydney University in the Shute Shield – Sydney’s premier rugby competition – Warringah Rats hooker Wes Thomas suffered a central cord syndrome neck injury when he charged for the try-line from close range.
Warringah player Wes Thomas recovers in hospital after suffering from a central cord syndrome neck injury. Warringah rugby
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Thomas underwent surgery on Sunday and remains in intensive care at Royal North Shore Hospital.
He has reportedly regained some movement in his arms, and there is hope of a full recovery after extensive rehabilitation.
The Wallabies sent Thomas a touching video message in Osaka on Thursday ahead of their clash with Japan on Saturday.
“Hey Wes, on behalf of Rugby Australia and the Wallabies we want to wish you a speedy recovery,” winger Dylan Pietsch - a former Randwick star - said.
“What you’re going through is a really tough time, but we’re all behind you here, and we just can’t wait for you to get back walking and being the great man that you are for your family and for yourself as well.
“On behalf of us, good luck.”
The Herald reported Thomas is one of the hardest working players outside the fully professional ranks.
A scaffolder by day, he rises to a 3.30am alarm every morning to hit the gym before starting work.
After a full day on-site, he trains with Warringah every night except Wednesday, when he takes his young daughter to her own football training.
On weekends, he plays Shute Shield on Saturday, and then backs it up on Sunday by playing league for the Cromer Kingfishers.
Unable to work, Thomas’ brother Quin started a GoFundMe, which by Thursday had racked up nearly $160,000 in donations.
The list of donors included several current and former Wallabies, NRL and Super Rugby players, as well as club sponsors.
Thomas won the Shute Shield with the Rats last year, and topped it off by being awarded the Ken Catchpole Medal for best player in the competition.
The Wallabies send a message to Wes Thomas. Nine
Rats coach Josh Holmes said Thomas’ sense of humour was still intact in hospital.
“Wes told me, ‘You probably don’t need me for the next two games (in the Shute Shield), but I’ll be ready for the first week of finals. I just need to get some pad work done next week’,” he told the Herald.
“It’s rocked a lot of people, and a lot of the boys at the club are very close with him. Everyone is super worried about him, but in the end everyone just wants to make sure that he can get back and live a good life and a normal life again, so he can be a good father for his kids.
“He messaged me and asked me how training was going. He never does that, and that’s because he’s always there. I know he’s hurting, and I know he wants to be there with the boys because that’s what he wants more than anything.”
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