Kiwi suffers heart attack in match

A prominent New Zealand player, Hoani MacDonald, who has played in Australia and Wales, collapsed with a suspected heart attack in a New Zealand NPC match on Saturday.

The 34-year-old utility forward required vigorous CPR treatment for more than five minutes before he could be moved from the field and rushed to hospital.

Fairfax media quoted a stadium staff member as saying: "We got him back."

MacDonald, a former New Zealand Junior and New Zealand Maori representative, was playing for Southland against Counties-Manukau in a NPC Second Division semifinal match when he collapsed midway through the first half.

A Southland team spokesman said it was not known whether he collapsed during an incident on or off the ball, but spectators said MacDonald was treated for a suspected cardiac arrest after he fell clutching his chest.

In 2008, MacDonald left New Zealand to play for Welsh side Newport Gwent Dragons before moving to Australia in 2011 to play Super 15 rugby for the Melbourne Rebels.

AFP