Family blames coaches for NWU student rugby death

The family of a 20-year-old North-West University (NWU) student who died after breaking his neck during a rugby match is accusing the coaching staff of being responsible for the death.

This is because the player was reportedly forced to play in a scrum position without proper training.

Vilano Saunders, a second-year student at the NWU Vanderbijlpark campus, broke his neck in a match at the campus sports field.

Student broke his neck in a match

He was admitted to the Midvaal Private Hospital and on Monday died as a result of the injury.

Family spokesperson Hennie Venter said: “It was the first time he played as a hooker at the very first scrum in the game. I thought he was playing flank.

“He was put into the hooker position, which is a perilous, specialised and dangerous position in the rugby game. He had no experience at all.”

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Venter added: “He did not even practice being a hooker.

“The matter needs to be investigated because the decision was wrong.”

Venter said although Saunders had some experience as a prop, he had never played the position of hooker.

Saunders had experience as a prop but not a hooker

He said he asked Saunders before his death what had transpired and Saunders said he heard on Thursday that he was to play hooker.

Venter said Saunders only got a five-minute pep talk in the locker room before the game.

Venter said before Saunders died, he told him that when the scrum was set and they started pushing he felt pressure on his straps and heard a snap at the side of his neck towards the spinal cord and lost all feeling and collapsed. Venter stopped questioning him after realising that he was becoming emotional.

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He said Saunders told him he was put in the position as punishment because he had previously missed a match.

According to Venter, Saunders was a rugby fanatic and looking forward to a bright future.

“The family understands that rugby is a contact sport with risk, but player welfare should supersede any risks taken by the coaches.

‘Player welfare should supersede risks taken’ – family

“We feel that he should have been conditioned, trained and practiced before playing in such a technical and dangerous position.

“The first time I learnt that Vilano had played hooker was when I saw him in hospital.

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“The first thing he said when he saw us in the hospital was to ask if he would be able to play rugby again.

“Then he asked me if he was paralysed and I said only temporarily.

“The family is angry at the negligence of the NWU coaching staff.

Negligence by coaching staff

“We believe that they were negligent in not following the sport’s guidelines on player conditioning and training, which usually takes anything from six to eight weeks and longer for specialised positions like hooker.

“We have set out to prove that the negligence of the coaching staff of NWU has cost the family the life of their beloved son.”

He said the family appreciated the immense support from the rugby community and the U21 rugby team. He said the family loved and respected the NWU rugby spirit that the institution promotes. The family also appreciated the condolences sent by the university’s coaching staff, he added.

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The Citizen has seen a letter which Vilano’s parents sent to other family members instructing them to consult with their legal representative to build up a case against the institution.

But NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs denied that the player was inexperienced.

“NWU does not have any knowledge of Vilano being forced to play in the front row for any reason and that he had the training and experience to do so.

NWU denies that Saunders was inexprienced

“The tragic incident is being investigated by the relevant rugby union.”

Richard Louw, a head coach for the Springs under-21s, a team that North-West University (NWU) was playing against when the incident happened, said he tried to convince the NWU coach to go for an uncontested scrum because both teams did not have suitable players. But the coach refused.

In rugby union, an uncontested scrum happens when one or both of the teams playing on the day do not have suitable or trained front-row players and the scrum plays without contesting the ball or pushing.

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He said the death could have been avoided if the coach had not fielded the player in that specialised position.

According to the rugby union, specialised positions include props, hooker, locks, flankers and number eights, also known as backrown forwards, scrumhalf, flyhalf, centres, wings and fullback.

These positions are further divided into forwards and backs, each with unique responsibilities and skill sets.

‘Death could have been avoided’ – opposite team coach

When contacted for comment SA Rugby said: “We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family for this tragic loss.

“We cannot comment until we have a full incident report.”