The All Ireland League play-off match between UCC and Shannon was abandoned after 66 minutes on Saturday
An Irish rugby player is “responding well” in hospital after suffering a “medical incident” during a match.
Second-row Sam O’Sullivan was playing for UCC against Shannon in an All Ireland League play-off match at the Mardyke in Cork, Ireland, on Saturday when he collapsed during the second half, reportedly suffering a cardiac incident.
He received treatment at the ground before being transferred to Cork University Hospital, with the match subsequently abandoned.
In a social media update, UCC President John Fitzgerald provided news on the team’s captain while paying tribute to the emergency services.
He wrote: “Dear supporters, you may have heard about the medical incident at the UCC v Shannon game today. Our captain Sam O’Sullivan is now at CUH responding well under expert care.
“The response by the Emergency Medical Services was world class. Thank you for your kind wishes. I am the point of contact for any further information.”
Shannon RFC offered its support to the UCC stalwart. A Facebook post read: “We would like to extend our very best wishes to @uccrfc captain Sam O’Sullivan for a full and speedy recovery.
“We also send our thoughts and best wishes to everyone at UCC, as well as to Sam’s family, teammates, and friends.
“Well done to everyone who responded so promptly in the Mardyke yesterday, you are an absolute credit to your club.
“Our support is with you all – from everyone at Shannon RFC.”
Fitzgerald offered a further update to the Irish Examiner, describing Fitzgerald as “comfortable and stable”.
O’Sullivan had collapsed during the second half of the Division 1B promotion/relegation play-off, with the match then abandoned after 66 minutes with UCC ahead 31-12.
“We were very fortunate and we had we had brilliant medical people on site and they stabilised Sam,” Fitzgerald said, “and then emergency medical services came in and they did an amazing job and got him off to CUH.”
The second-row is the son of Tadhg O’Sullivan, a Munster team doctor and former UCC captain, and the brother of former Munster back-row Jack, who is currently playing for Red Hurricanes Osaka in Japan.
He is also the cousin of Billy, Niall and Rory Scannell – the latter two being Ireland internationals.
“I spoke with his father this morning and Sam’s awake, he’s well, he’s eating and talking and just better, so we’re very thankful,” added Fitzgerald.
“Our guys are, actually both teams, I just spoke with Frank Sargent who’s the president of Shannon and their guys are very traumatised as well, so both teams.
“You know, a fit young man of like 22, 23 having a cardiac incident in the middle of a game is not something that you see every day.
“But he’s in CUH and look it’s one of the really good things we have here. We’re a world-class hospital here in Cork and we were very fortunate yesterday that we’re a club full of doctors and one of the best cardiologists in the world is at the game, so truthfully I am very relieved.
“You feel for Sam and his family because Mum and Dad at the game, you know and Sam is our leading player in terms of AIL caps. He holds a record for UCC, 85 caps in the AIL which is unheard of. He’s been almost ever present for five years.
“Our whole thing is it’s our young players and Sam and his family and that’s the key thing for us.”
With the play-off fixture abandoned, the IRFU confirmed that the result will be determined by the All-Ireland League Competitions Committee in due course.
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