Senior Joshua Hsu, a member of the Tufts University Rugby Football Club (RFC), suffered major trauma to the head during a match on Saturday, October 9.
The match, which took place at Massachusetts' Stonehill College, had, by all accounts, been going smoothly until a "freak accident" left Hsu unconscious and convulsing on the field.
According to senior Jordan Edwards, also a member of the RFC, "from what I saw, it looks like he went in to tackle a kid and his head collided with [the Stonehill player's] shoulder."
Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, who confirmed that a Tufts student was seriously injured at the Stonehill rugby match, noted that, according to witnesses, the play that left Hsu seriously injured was not reckless.
"[The coaching staff] told me that there was nothing unusual about the play. It seemed to be a standard play with good technique. It was an unfortunate accident that left [Hsu] in tough shape," Reitman said.
RFC Coach Bob Winchester did not return multiple calls for comment.
Edwards said that after initially falling to the ground unconscious, Hsu briefly regained consciousness before lapsing back again, when he "then started convulsing."
"It was the most serious injury I've ever seen," Edwards said. "It was really scary to watch a teammate drop like that."
A medical helicopter air-lifted Hsu from the Stonehill field to Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he spent some time in the Intensive Care Unit.
Senior Alexander Canaan, a friend of Hsu's, has visited him in the hospital and confirmed that Hsu had undergone surgery for head trauma.
Canaan said that Hsu's mother and sister have flown in from Hsu's home state of Colorado and have been with Hsu since shortly after the accident.
According to Canaan, Hsu is "conscious" and "his memory is really good, and that was one thing people were concerned about."
Reitman said that Hsu was just released from MGH and has been moved to the Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital.
According to Reitman, "... there is going to be a need for rehabilitation, and it will probably be a long haul."
That notwithstanding, he remained optimistic about Hsu's future. "We're all hopeful that [Hsu] is able to return to Tufts as soon as possible and that he's able to have a full recovery and rejoin the community." Reitman said.
Both Reitman and Canaan said that Hsu will almost certainly not be returning to Tufts this semester as a result of the lengthy rehabilitation process Hsu will most likely have to undergo.
"He's probably going to start his senior year again next fall," Canaan said.
Teammates and friends of Hsu's have been overwhelmingly supportive of his condition. "He's a great person, and every one of his friends is wishing him the best," Canaan said. "Josh is a great kid and a great guy on the team. Everyone just loves him," senior teammate Jim Groth said.
Despite the severity of the injury Hsu sustained, most agree that it is the nature of the sport, and that there is no one to blame.
Senior Menina Skelly, a friend of Hsu's, said, "I think people, myself included, will realize how potentially dangerous [rugby] can be, and that college students aren't invincible." She added that "Freak things like [this accident] happen all the time. You just never know."
Reitman acknowledged the potential for injury in rugby, but said that it was simply the nature of the game. "Rugby is a rough game ... it is a full-contact sport and the league does not wear the same sort of protective gear as does football or hockey," he said. "That's what makes rugby the sport that it is, I suppose, and the situation is the same for all the schools that play the sport."
Edwards said that Tufts' RFC has enjoyed an undefeated season, and that playoffs, scheduled to begin next week, will continue as planned.
