Worcester Warriors

Worcester deny Michael Fatialofa's claim about unpaid hospital bill for spinal injury

Fatialofa, 28, suffered a bad neck injury in a game in January 2020 and spent months in hospital, including a stay at a specialist rehabilitation unit in Buckinghamshire.

The former Hurricanes lock has posted on social media that “hopefully the Worcester Warriors will pay my hospital bill this year’’.

But the Warriors have issued a statement saying they were “disappointed’’ by Fatialofa’s comment and have insisted neither they nor the New Zealander should have to pay anything more.

Fatialofa, Worcester at odds over outstanding medical bills

It was feared the former Hurricanes lock might never walk again after suffering a serious neck injury during a Premiership game 13 months ago.

Fatialofa was left temporarily paralysed and spent almost three weeks in intensive care in London before being moved to a private rehab unit because the NHS Hospital next door was full.

In July, Fatialofa received a six figure bill for his stay at the Private Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital and tweeted overnight that he was still waiting on Worcester Warriors to pay the outstanding fee.

Worcester say they'll continue to support Michael Fatialofa

It was feared the New Zealand-born flanker might never walk again after suffering a serious neck injury in a Premiership game on January 4th.

Fatialofa spent almost three weeks in intensive care in London.

He was then transferred to a rehab unit at the private Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.

He should have been moved to the NHS Stoke Mandeville hospital next door, but there were no beds available.

And he has now received a bill, reported to be $200,000 for his time at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.

Michael Fatialofa welcomed back at Warriors

The 27-year-old suffered serious spinal injuries playing for Worcester against Saracens in the Premiership on 4 January.

Having spent five months in hospital - the first of them in the Intensive Care Unit of St Mary's Hospital in London - Fatialofa made remarkable progress during four months at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in Aylesbury.

He was discharged 11 days ago and returned to Sixways today to continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of Warriors' medical staff.