Club rugby player on life support after dangerous tackle

Cape Town - A 31-year-old man has been left on life support in Cape Town after being injured in a club rugby match over the weekend.

Kyle Barnes, a wing for Goodwood Rugby Club's first XV, was the victim of a tackle that has left him with a life-threatening neck and head injury. 

The father-of-two underwent surgery to alleviate the swelling on his brain, but on Tuesday he was declared brain dead. 

Johann Vorster, chairperson of Goodwood Rugby Club, told Sport24 that Barnes was still technically alive on Wednesday morning. 

Vorster was on his way to visit Barnes in the hospital, and he said he would provide an update on his condition later in the day. 

"It's just a terrible, tragic situation," he said. 

Barnes is a father to twins, who turn eight on Thursday.