Nellies rugby player recovers well after tackle injury

MJ Fouché, a rugby player of Hoërskool Nelspruit, has been released from hospital and is recovering at home after he had suffered a terrible injury during a match on March 21.

MJ was playing for Hoërskool Nelspruit’s U14A team that took part in the Grey College U14 Rugby Tournament on March 21, when he went in for a tackle and suffered a blow to the head.

MJ received some treatment from the medics on the field, but still walked off the field himself, according to his father, Mauritz.
A doctor happened to be present on the day and urged that MJ be sent to hospital.

This same doctor would be MJ’s neurologist at Mediclinic Bloemfontein, and it was there that it was determined he had not only broken his nose, but that there was also a fracture along his eye socket up to his skull. There was also minor bleeding under the fracture, and MJ had suffered a grade two concussion.

He underwent treatment immediately, and the next morning, the neurologist contacted MJ’s parents and recommended they travel to Bloemfontein as he could be spending some time in hospital.

MJ ultimately spent four nights in the ICU before he was transferred to a regular ward, and after a further two nights there, he was discharged on March 27 to begin his road to recovery. “He still has really bad neck and head pains, but he is positive and recovering,” Mauritz said.

According to his father, MJ may not take part in any contact sport for the rest of the year, and his doctor recommended that MJ never plays rugby again. “We have been referred to a physiotherapist in Mbombela who will handle his neck recovery and treatment, and we are due for a follow-up a month from now,” Mauritz said.

“We are incredibly grateful for all of the support we have received during this time, especially from Hoërskool Nelspruit and his coaches, as well as fellow parents and Cheetahs player Friedle Olivier, who came to visit MJ in hospital with a shirt signed by all of the Cheetahs players.”