• Fatialofa heads home five months after hospitalisation

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    Former Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa has been released from a spinal care unit five months after breaking his neck in an English Premiership match.

    In January, Fatialofa suffered a C4 vertebrae fracture and spinal contusion, one minute after coming onto the field for the Worcester Warriors in their match against Saracens.

    After undergoing surgery for a spinal contusion, which causes compression on the spinal cord and can lead to paralysis, there were fears he wouldn’t walk again, but the 27-year-old has continually defied the odds.

    Two months ago he started walking unassisted and just last month, Fatialofa achieved the great milestone by walking 2.32km unassisted with his rehab friends in just under an hour.

    His wife Tatiana took to Twitter to share the news that Fatialofa will return to their home, having been recovering at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital for the last five months.

    Fatialofa will continue his rehabilitation at the Warriors’ base in Worcestershire, and plans to return to New Zealand at the end of the year.

    READ: ‘You never think it will happen to you’

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    SA Rugby magazine