Risk at park angers player

Sean Hohneck could not play the Maori-Fiji match because of an infection after playing on the Fraser Tech Rugby Club's field in Hamilton.

The re-opening of Fraser Tech Rugby Club's playing field in Hamilton has angered a player who suffered an infection after playing on it.

The cause of the infection that put Greg Wells and teammates Sean Hohneck and Anthony Hedgman in hospital after a game at the Fraser Tech field against Hamilton Old Boys on May 28 remains a mystery.

Hohneck, a Super 12 player for the Chiefs, missed the match between the New Zealand Maori and Fiji as a result.

Wells was in hospital for three weeks and came close to losing a leg after a sprig wound on his thigh became infected.

He had five operations over 11 days to remove infected tissue and the gash became a hole the size of his girlfriend's hand as more and more tissue became infected.

"The doctor said, 'Worst-case scenario is that there's a risk we won't be able to save your leg'. It was very sobering. It was the most testing time of my life," he said.

The 22-year-old recently had a suction pump removed from the injury and has daily visits from a nurse to change the dressings.

The field was closed soon after the infections were discovered. It was cleared for use last week after a report by Waikato District Health Board public health physician Anita Bell said she saw no evidence that the field was the cause of the infections.

But Wells said the field's re-opening was "disconcerting".

He said Hamilton Mayor Michael Redman had told him after the report was released last week that further investigation into the field's condition was warranted. But it remains open.

"It was all just lip service," Wells said. He was concerned that the council was not taking proper action and that others might be at risk if they play on the field, especially children.

"I'm not sure I can go back and play at Fraser Tech if nothing is done."

Wells, a student at Waikato University, has been playing for Fraser Tech since he was 4.

Dr Bell said there were no swabs taken at the time of the initial infections to try to identify the source. "Unfortunately, we weren't told soon enough. By the time we were, the players were treated with antibiotics and the infections were on their way out."

In Auckland, two rugby players were treated in hospital for blood poisoning and several others developed infections after playing on a club field contaminated with what was believed to be sewage three weeks ago.

College Rifles decided on Tuesday that if the drain overflowed with sewage again all play on the field would be stopped.

- NZPA, STAFF REPORTER