Tonga's Katoa Has Surgery After 'seizure Activity'

Tonga guardant Eli Katoa is unchangeable successful infirmary arsenic he recovers from room aft suffering "seizure activity" during Sunday's Pacific Championships lucifer against New Zealand.

The 25-year-old played successful nan crippled astatine Auckland's Eden Park contempt suffering a important rustle to nan caput successful nan warm-up erstwhile team-mate Lehi Hopoate accidentally caught him successful nan look pinch his shoulder.

He past suffered 2 much blows during nan match. He passed a caput wounded appraisal (HIA) aft nan first, but did not return to nan section aft nan second.

His information worsened arsenic he sat connected nan bench, pinch tv footage showing him being fitted pinch an oxygen disguise earlier being put connected a stretcher.

It is unclear whether he had an HIA aft nan rustle sustained during nan warm-up.

"Eli Katoa was taken to infirmary aft suffering seizure activity connected nan chair during nan 2nd half of yesterday's Pacific Championships lucifer betwixt Tonga and New Zealand," his nine Melbourne Storm said in a statement., external

"Eli underwent room overnight and is successful a unchangeable information being supported by his partner and mother. Storm aesculapian unit stay successful adjacent interaction pinch nan infirmary and Tonga's squad main aesculapian officer."

Seizure activity tin mention to nan prelude to a seizure.

In a news convention aft nan match, which New Zealand won 40-14, Tonga caput coach Kristian Woolf defended nan squad doctors, saying everything was "done by nan book".

"We've sewage 2 very knowledgeable doctors there. They've done their accustomed HIA. He's passed each that and passed each that well," Woolf said.

"My occupation is not to mobility doctors. They were some comfortable pinch that and comfortable pinch him coming backmost connected to nan field.

"So I don't deliberation there's thing to interest astir location successful position of nan process."

Katoa posted a societal media connection from his infirmary furniture connected Monday, accompanied by a image of a drip successful his arm.

"Appreciate everyone for checking in," he wrote connected Instagram.

"Sorry I haven't sewage backmost to immoderate of you guys but I really admit each nan love."

New Zealand's triumph intends they will look Samoa successful Sunday's Pacific Championships last successful Parramatta, Australia.