James Batchelor injury update after Hull KR forward stretchered off pitch 24

James Batchelor injury update after Hull KR forward stretchered off pitch
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Play stops for an head injury to James Batchelor #16 of Hull KR during the Betfred Super League Magic Weekend match Salford Red Devils vs Hull KR at St. James’s Park, Newcastle, United Kingdom, 3rd June 2023 (Photo by Craig Cresswell/News Images)
There is concern for Hull KR forward James Batchelor after he was stretchered from the field during the club’s Magic Weekend clash in Newcastle. The back-rower was involved in a heavy collision that left him motionless, sparking concern from all sides of the ground.

Batchelor was treated on the field for eight minutes before being carried from the field by several medical professionals. The incident had sparked immediate concern on the field as a number of players waved for assistance as soon as the collision took place. Such was the concern for the back-rower, CEO, Paul Lakin, made his way to pitch side.

However, the first significant update was a positive one, with Sky Sports confirming that he was conscious and talking to the medical staff assisting him. Sources have gone on to tell Hull Live that Batchelor is OK but has suffered a bad head knock. It was unclear if they would send him to hospital however Sky have confirmed Batchelor was put in an ambulance and sent to hospital for check ups.

Speaking after the game KR coach Willie Peters said: “Batch has gone to hospital and hopefully that is precautionary, but we will find out more about that later.”

Inevitably, he now automatically misses next week’s game in France, though the timeframe for any return to the field is, at this point, unclear. Head coach Willie Peters is set to provide a further update after the game.

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Willie Peters confirms triple Hull KR blow as Magic Weekend trip ends in woe
Rovers lost three key players in the 26-16 defeat to Salford Red Devils.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters has confirmed the injuries to James Batchelor, Lachlan Coote and Sauaso Sue. It was a tough afternoon for the Robins at St James’ Park after losing key personnel on top of being defeated by one of their closest rivals.

Batchelor and Coote both left the field prematurely in Newcastle after suffering head knocks, with Sue limping down the tunnel in the second half. The Samoan looked in agony as he was carried off by two members of Rovers’ medical team, with Peters confirming it is a hamstring injury, the severity of which is not known yet.

Rovers will now have to wait for the full injury diagnosis, but are set to be without all three players for a key period of the campaign.

Lachlan was in good spirits at the end, but he failed his HIA. He sounded ok, but you never know. We needed depth in that fullback position, and now with Lachlan going down today, he won’t be able to play next week. So Jack Walker comes in at a needed time for us.”

On the Batchelor incident, it was a scary moment for both teams. The intensity dropped for some time after the lengthy stoppage, with Peters explaining what the early worries were.

“I think initially he didn’t have any feeling, but it started to come back. He’s gone to hospital. From what I know, he’s in a decent way. He was talking. The medical team said he was in good spirits, and it was precautionary to take him to the hospital because of his early symptoms.

“I think it hurt both teams. Nobody likes to see a player go down like that. We have a brutal physical sport, and that’s why the fans love it. But nobody wants that to happen.”