Major rugby organisations come together to support 16 year-old who suffered brain injury playing 1st XV

Two major rugby organisations are coming together to help Wesley College raise funds to support a teenager who suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing in a schoolboy match.

Semisi Naiqara, 16, spent six weeks in hospital after being injured in a game against Linston College in September. He has since been moved to the Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation centre in Rānui after his condition improved.

Naiqara played centre for Wesley First XV in the Central North Island competition this year.

While a Givealittle page has been created to help the family cover costs, Counties Manukau Provisional Union and the NZ Rugby Foundation are planning a fundraising differ to be held in July to further increase fundraising efforts.

NZR general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster says rugby has the power “to bring people together to support each other” in circumstances like these.

“We are hopeful the rugby community will rally around Semisi and his family, showing the same care and support that defines the game.”

The Givealittle was created 10 weeks ago and $420 has so far been donated by seven people.

“We are so deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support for Semisi,” said his parents in a release. “It gives us so much strength to see how many people are standing behind him.

“With the right care and continued support from the community, we are hopeful Semisi will continue to make steady and encouraging progress.”

All donations made to the Givealittle page will be paid to Vaulina Naiqara, Semisi’s mother.

“THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to our Wesley College Family and Community for all the loving support as we together with the Naiqara family, pray for Semisi’s return to full health and wellbeing,” the Givealittle page reads.

“To assist the Naiqara family in what will be a long journey continuing to care for and support Semisi’s recovery, the college is adding its further support by way of this ‘GIVE A LITTLE’ page.

“All donations will be thankfully received and contribute to the care Semisi will require moving forward.”

Wesley College has a proud history of school sport, producing the likes of Jonah Lomu, Stephen Donald, Nepo Laulala among others.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission