Paralyzed Cal rugby player moved to Colorado – SFGate

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Photo: Nathan Phillips, Associated Press

Robert Paylor was paralyzed in a May 6 match.

Robert Paylor was paralyzed in a May 6 match.

Cal rugby coach Jack Clark discussed Robert Paylors injury for the first time on May 11.

Cal rugby coach Jack Clark discussed Robert Paylors injury for the first time on May 11.

Paralyzed Cal rugby player moved to Colorado

Robert Paylor, the Cal rugby player who was paralyzed during the May 6 national championship Varsity Cup match against Arkansas State, was flown to a treatment center in Colorado on Thursday, according to a statement from Bears coach Jack Clark.

Roberts spinal cord injury has resulted in significant paralysis, said Clark, who is with his team in Philadelphia for the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s. Hes had an operation to stabilize his spine, after which he battled the onset of pneumonia, high blood pressure and difficulty swallowing, resulting in the necessity of a feeding tube.

Throughout this truly difficult period, Robert has been a champion, battling every day to restore his health in order to be cleared by doctors for the next stage of his rehabilitation.

According to the statement, Paylor, a 6-foot-5, 233-pound sophomore from El Dorado Hills (El Dorado County), left the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where he had been since being injured and was flown to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo.

Clark has described Paylors injury as the most severe hes ever seen in his 34 years as a player and a coach. In the statement, he said it was preventable and that video and photos of the incident have been sent to USA Rugby, which has reportedly opened an investigation.

Roberts faith has remained unbelievably strong, said Clark. He is a courageous individual with an elite work ethic. If anyone can make gains through rehabilitation, it will be Robert.

Clark said his team had discussed not traveling to Philadelphia.

Our team and university are navigating new ground with a catastrophic injury of this type, he said in the statement. We gave serious consideration to withdrawing our participation here at the CRC, but in the end, we decided it was important to meet all of the team obligations we had earlier accepted.

Although we are here in body, our hearts and spirit are with Robert.

I have been asked if we will dedicate our performance at the CRC to Robert. I think the answer is complicated. On one level, rugby is trivial by comparison. We love Robert well beyond a rugby context. Robert wakes up and answers a very difficult bell every day. Rugbys significance pales in comparison to his challenges.

I am proud our players have had the will to push through their emotions and bring this season to a conclusion. I suspect that without Roberts courage, our team would not be able to participate this weekend.

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Paralyzed Cal rugby player moved to Colorado - SFGate