Italian rugby has been rocked by the death of 18-year-old player Rebecca Braglia, who passed away after suffering a neck injury sustained in a match in Ravenna last Sunday.
Braglia apparently injured the back of her neck when her head hit the ground during a tackle while playing for her club, Amatori Parma Rugby.
💔 il rugby italiano piange Rebecca Braglia
🚑 l’impegno di FIR nella tutela del player welfare
💙 il dolore di capitan @sergioparisse e tutta #ItalrugbyLeggi tutto ➡ https://t.co/VMEvisvJf3 pic.twitter.com/SZg22G7BFw
— Italrugby (@Federugby) May 3, 2018
The young player was then airlifted to hospital in Cesana, where her condition deteriorated and Italian rugby’s governing the body, the FIR, confirmed on Wednesday that Braglia had died.
Daniele Ragone, the Amatori Parma Rugby president, described Braglia as “an extraordinary girl, as well as a much loved and respected player, who in these years has contributed so much to the growth and development of female rugby in Emilia Romagna.”
“Now she’s playing in the championship in Heaven,” said her father, Giuliano.