Darling Downs league player Sebastyan Thompson breaks back in pre-season game

The rugby league community is uniting to support a young father and his family after his back was tragically broken in a dangerous league game tackle.

Sebastyan Thompson's tough recovery after breaking his back in a tragic rugby accident.

A Queensland community has rallied around a local rugby league player whose back was broken during a tackle in a pre-season game.

Pittsworth Danes player Sebastyan Thompson, 24, was rushed to Toowoomba Hospital on March 1 after breaking his C6 vertebrae in two places.

Queensland Rugby League said a Toowoomba Rugby League player had pleaded guilty to a Grade 3 reckless tackle and was now serving a four-match suspension.

“The ruling took into account the player’s good record and his early guilty plea following the charge. He was also penalised and sin-binned by the referee following the tackle,” a statement read.

Mr Thompson now faces major surgery to have pins and rods inserted into his neck, and faces a long rehabilitation process.

Toby Salzke and Mr Thompson’s partner Katarnia Taylor have started a GoFundMe with the target of raising $20,000 to help Sebastyan on his road to recovery.

“His partner, two young children, and devoted family are staying by his bedside every step of the way,” Mr Salzke said in the GoFundMe.

“But with this unimaginable challenge comes an overwhelming financial burden, one no family should ever have to face alone.”

Their family is asking for donations to help them overcome a loss of income, and to support the costs of Mr Thompson’s rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Pittsworth Danes President Rob Cattarin said the rugby league community had rallied around Mr Thompson, who had been moved between hospitals.

“All our teammates have rallied around him during this time, they are all supporting him,” he said.

Queensland Rugby League has offered wellbeing support for Mr Thompson and are donating numerous items for fundraising to help with his recovery.

Mr Thompson’s GoFundMe can be found here.

Originally published as Darling Downs league player Sebastyan Thompson breaks back in pre-season game