Rugby injuries: Stirring haka for boys as they were carried to rescue helicopter

A Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter turned up after two players suffered injuries during the game. Photo / Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter

Two 12-year-old boys have been injured playing rugby today, with one thought to have serious injuries.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed the Northland Emergency Services' Trust rescue helicopter was sent to the Maungaturoto Country Club rugby fields, in Northland, at noon and both boys were flown to Whangarei Base Hospital.

One of the boys' mothers travelled with them.

They were hurt while playing for the Otamatea Hawks u-13 side against Wellsford.

One had serious injuries, but the spokeswoman would not give more details and a Whangarei Base Hospital duty manager was not able to confirm the boys' conditions this afternoon.

Otamatea Hawks team manager Karyn Hodgson said they were also waiting for news.

Teammates gave the boys a stirring haka as they were taken onto the rescue helicopter, Hodgson said.

"The boys all lined up as they were carried through on stretchers, and did a haka for them. It was amazing."

One boy received a neck injury in a ruck, the other was unintentionally struck in the head in a separate incident, she said.

Another Otamatea coach, Dean Kenny, was at the ground and said the boy with a neck injury was "drifting in and out of consciousness".

He understood the second boy was hurt when he was struck in the head by a boot soon after.

The game, which was being played against Wellsford, was called off half an hour into the first half, Kenny said.

A Hawks player coached by Kenny, 17-year-old Jordan Kemp, died in July last year after suffering a head injury during a game.