Glenora Bears player Eugene Hanna has died at 30 after what the club described as an “unsurvivable” injury in a season-opening match.
New Zealand rugby league player Eugene Hanna has died at 30 after suffering a severe injury in the Glenora Bears’ season opener, the club confirmed.
Glenora Rugby League Football Club Chairwoman Janet Hunt said Hanna, a member of the club’s Premier Reserves squad, was injured during a game against the Te Atatu Roosters. The club said he died Tuesday after receiving care at Auckland Hospital.
“Eugene sustained an injury in the team's first game of the season against Te Atatu which was tragically unsurvivable,” Hunt said in a statement shared by the club. She thanked Te Atatu Roosters members who helped at the scene, paramedics and Auckland Hospital staff for their care.
The club did not release further details about the play or circumstances that led to the injury. The Te Atatu Roosters also issued condolences, and other clubs posted messages of support after Hanna’s death, including Renegades FC of the New Zealand Christian Football League, where Hanna had previously played.
New Zealand Rugby League issued a separate statement Thursday emphasizing player safety and the need to follow head injury and concussion protocols. The organization said it has “rigorous head injury and concussion protocols in place” and works with the rugby league community on education and resources throughout the year.
“We urge anyone who sustains a head injury or experiences any symptoms to follow the guidelines in place, seek the appropriate medical advice and treatment, and only return to play when advised and appropriate,” the organization said.
Further details about the injury and any review of the incident were not immediately available from the source material. For now, the club’s public statement identifies Hanna’s death as the result of an injury sustained in the season-opening match.
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