Horsted Keynes rugby player in ‘worrying condition’ after serious neck injury in France

James Lasis, a former Brighton College student who plays for Stade Niçois, was hurt during a match between Stade Niçois and Rugby Club Narbonnais on Sunday (April 25).

A Stade Niçois spokesman said James, 25, underwent emergency cervical surgery and is now being treated at Nice University Hospital.

But the ‘extraordinary lad and rugby player’ is still in a ‘worrying condition’, the spokesman said.

Supporters in both England and France have set up fundraising pages for James and his family.

Click here to read our interview with James’s mother who has thanked everyone for their support.

The JustGiving page has raised more that £12,000 while the Leetchi page has raised more than 10,000€.

A Stade Niçois spokesman said: “Our club, from the school of rugby to his friends in the first team, has only one priority: to support James throughout this ordeal and to support his family.”

“Players, sportsmen and administrative staff, managers, volunteers, Rugby lovers in France, England and everywhere think of James and give him their full support,” he added.

Stade Niçois thanked the medical teams who took care of James during the match, the CHU teams who now care for him every day, and everyone who has supported the young rugby player.

The club has created an email address for messages of support, which will be turned into a montage for James.

Email [email protected].

People can donate to the English fund at www.justgiving.com or the French fund at leetchi.com.