Cal rugby player paralyzed after suffering injury during game

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- The Cal rugby team was supposed to be celebrating after winning a championship final on Saturday, but instead the team and their families are heartbroken after one of their players was severely injured.

Robert Paylor was left paralyzed after falling on his head.

Nathan Becker, also a rugby player, is his housemate. "It's tough for all of us. It casts a shadow on the victory, it's not right," he said.

Paylor's family issued a statement. "Robert is currently working on stabilizing his condition so he can start rehabilitation. The injury paralyzed his lower body with limited motion in his arms."

The injury occurred just three minutes into the match. Paylor, a sophomore from Cal from El Dorado Hills, had surgery that evening which doctors hope will give him a greater chance of regaining movement.

In a statement, the head coach Jack Clark said, "His challenges will be severe, long in duration and difficult beyond measure. Our team intends to be there with him every bit of the way."

Because he will need a lot of rehabilitation, a GoFundMe page has been set up to cover his future medical bills. The goal was set at $1 million.

"All of that will go to rehabilitation. He will get moved to a rehabilitation facility after that and so that's the best way to help, if you're willing to help him," Becker said.

A prayer service will be held on campus on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. The entire Cal community is welcome.

Click here to donate to the GoFund Me page set up to cover Paylor's medical expenses.