Masters Rugby league player critical with ‘severe spinal injuries’ at Runaway Bay during national carnival on the Gold Coast

A man has suffered critical injuries to his spine in a sporting accident on the Gold Coast this morning.

A MASTERS rugby league player has been taken to hospital in a critical condition after a sporting incident at Runaway Bay today.

The man in his 30s suffered severe spinal injuries on Morala Ave around 11.30am, paramedics said.

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It’s understood the man was injured during a game at the national rugby league carnival.

The Queensland Ambulance Service High Acuity Unit were called to the scene and the man was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane for specialist treatment.

In a statement The NRL said it “is aware of a critical injury sustained to a participant at the NRL Masters event on the Gold Coast”.

“The player is now in the care of emergency services and we won’t be making further comment at this time.”

It follows a number of recent high-profile spinal injuries on the GPS rugby field in southeast Queensland, including 17-year-old Conor Tweedy, who has spent eight months recovering in a Brisbane Hospital.

Prior to the event, the NRL masters manager said the carnival was massively popular with 104 men’s teams and four women’s teams taking part. A number of team were also on a waiting list to take part.