Taione Vea has announced his retirement from professional rugby two months after suffering a spinal injury during a rugby match. The 27-year-old Prop who plays for the Newcastle Falcons in the English Aviva Premiership in a statement from his club said, “I was left paralyzed for five or six minutes on the field, where I couldn’t feel my whole body. That is enough for anybody in a lifetime, and the risk of that happening again if I was to return to playing is quite high.”

Taione suffered the spinal injury on September 2 after he was tackled in game against the Sale Sharks. Taione was lying paralyzed on the field before being stretchered out to the concern of the crowds attending the game.

He stated “What actually happened was that I passed the ball, relaxed, felt the hit, and even though I didn’t know who or how, I knew I’d been hit from behind. As I was falling to ground I could see myself falling. I was perfectly conscious, I just felt a bit of a sting, but as I was falling I couldn’t feel anything or control anything. I couldn’t brace to stop myself falling, my face hit the ground and as I was lying there I couldn’t move or feel anything.

“Our head physio Simon Pope was asking me what was going on, I said I couldn’t feel anything, I couldn’t move and that my arms and legs were gone. The medical staff turned me over, and the scariest part was after I asked someone to grab my arms. I was getting more and more agitated saying ‘someone please grab my arms’ but as I looked up I saw our head of athletic performance Kevin McShane squeezing my hand. I couldn’t feel a thing. Eventually after five minutes I started to get a little bit of feeling in my toes, then my feet, but I knew it was serious.”

Taione spent a few nights in Hospital before undergoing a six-week scan. Taione recounted “I prayed and I believed I was going to recover. At no point did I doubt that. I prayed some more, and it wasn’t until I ended up in the ambulance that I got full feeling back in my arms and everywhere. Within a couple of days I was out of hospital, walking about OK, and I thought I was through the worst of it. Everything felt fine, my movement was fine and it just felt like a matter of time before I was back playing. It had been such a good pre-season for me, the games had gone well and personally I was confident with how it was looking,

“Then we went into the six-week scan, and although going into the scan I was fully aware of all the potential outcomes I felt really positive about it. Worst case scenario I thought I might need an operation and that I might be out for a little while. Unfortunately that’s just not the way it panned out. So here I am, 27 years old.”

Newcastle Falcons Director Dean Richards stated “Tai is an enormously talented and popular member or our squad, and it is devastating to hear the news that he will not be able to carry on playing.”

Taione Vea has represented Tonga with six caps. He made 22 appearances for London Welsh last year in 2015 before being hired by the Newcastle Falcons. Taione also played for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership and North Harbour in New Zealand.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances Taione described his positive outlook on life “I feel like there is more to do. There is a lot more to life and you have to think about the wider picture. You keep telling yourself there is a way around it and that other players come back from big neck injuries. In terms of everyday life I will be fine, but I won’t be hitting any rucks or scrum machines. I can’t put my body in further jeopardy, and you have to weigh it up. I want to have kids and I am planning to get married to my partner, Larni.”

He also expressed his gratitude to his fans

“The support of the Falcons’ fans has also been huge for me. When I was lying in my hospital bed on the night of the injury my partner Larni was reading out all of the tweets and messages that were coming in from Falcons supporters. That was really uplifting and it made me feel positive that people cared so much about my wellbeing.”

“….thank you to the people of North East England. As tough as it has been to overcome the weather and the Geordie language we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here in Newcastle! It is sad to be finishing up but I am thankful for everything and excited for the next chapter in my life,” he said.