Female footy player, 23, dies after being tackled 

A female footy player has died after sustaining a knock to the head during a match in New Zealand’s north island over the weekend.

The 23-year-old had been playing for Tamatea league in their game against Dannevirke when the injury occurred around 12:30pm, according to The New Zealand Herald.

She was taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in critical condition but police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the player later died.

A 23-year-old female rugby player has died after sustaining a knock to the head during a match in New Zealand’s north island on Saturday (stock photo)

The injury reportedly happened when the player received the ball during the match and was tackled.

After the hit, she was seen to be ‘unsteady on her feet’ and was called off the field by coaches, but collapsed as she was being helped to the sideline. 

‘Emergency services were called to the sports park in Hastings on Saturday where a female rugby league player had collapsed after leaving the field,’ a New Zealand Police spokesperson said.

‘She was taken to hospital, where she later died.’ 

Rugby League Hawke’s Bay secretary Mike Tamati would not confirm the identity of the woman, but told Daily Mail Australia he had spoken with the family Monday morning.

‘Right now things are of course very sensitive for the family and so we are assisting them as we can,’ he said. 

The woman had been playing for Tamatea league in their game against Dannevirke when the injury occurred around 12:30pm (stock photo)

The woman had been playing for Tamatea league in their game against Dannevirke when the injury occurred around 12:30pm (stock photo)

She was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital (pictured) in critical condition following the incident, but later died, New Zelaand Police confirmed

She was taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital (pictured) in critical condition following the incident, but later died, New Zelaand Police confirmed

On Saturday he said that the woman had appeared fine immediately after the tackle and that she had received a cut to her eye, the New Zealand Herald reports.

‘Nobody anticipated what was going to happen as she came to the sideline,’ he said.

‘Our refs are quite sensitive of tackles, in particular high tackles, we’re mindful of this, so are our players but these accidents do happen.’

Concussion and head injury policies for the New Zealand Rugby League state that failure to answer any one of a checklist of questions in conjunction with symptoms of concussion mean a player must be removed from the field.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk