Rowan Varty and Dave Whiteford suffer concussion in finale to league
Hong Kong internationals taken to hospital after being hurt in clash between HKCC and Scottish
Hong Kong internationals Rowan Varty and Dave Whiteford suffered serious concussion as the league competition in the HKRFU Premiership ended with Leighton Asia HKCC officially being crowned champions on Saturday.
It was a somewhat muted end to the league as first Varty, and then Whiteford, were taken to hospital after they were injured in tackles in separate incidents in the game between Hong Kong Cricket Club and Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish at Aberdeen Sports Ground.
HKCC won the encounter 19-9.
He was out cold for about two minutes but he came around and knew where he was
HKCC fullback Varty was knocked unconscious when he was hit in a two-man tackle in the first half.
"It was a whiplash tackle, one low and one midriff. He was out cold for about two minutes but he came around and knew where he was," said Dai Rees, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union general manager, performance. "He was sent for a CT scan to make sure everything is okay."
Hong Kong Scottish winger Whiteford was hurt in a tackle in the second half.
Both players are expected to miss the season-ending Grand Championship although Varty is likely to be available to take part in the Hong Kong Sevens next month.
Varty, who is also a full-time scholarship athlete at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, texted congratulatory messages to his teammates after they came back from a 9-9 stalemate at half-time to clinch the league title in style.
