Teilah's rugby tragedy 'THE TACKLE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE'

The Hawke's Bay star has sidelined her Black Ferns dream and made new goals

- 

It was meant to be a regular Saturday morning match in May for Hurricanes player Teilah Ferguson. But a devastating accident, leaving her blind in one eye, dashed her dream of becoming a Black Fern and changed her life forever.

Teilah and her team, the Hawke's Bay Tui, were in commanding form, running up a 60-0 lead as the game wound down. With several players already sidelined by injury, Teilah suggested they end the match early, but the other players felt they should finish the game.

In the very next play, she was struck down in a try gone wrong.

Teilah dropped to the ground, clutching her eye, initially thinking it was a concussion. Her best friend and physio, Leah Tuhi, checked her on the field, but her eye had swollen shut, making it impossible to assess the damage.

As her mum, fellow Tui player Julie Ferguson, drove her to the hospital, Teilah inspected the damage and found there were no cuts or bruises on her face. She realised the force of the hit had gone directly into her eye, but was still hopeful she'd be back on the field in time for the playoffs.