View 3 Images

A young man launched an assault during a rugby match, leaving another player unconscious on the field. Antonio Embalo was 17 when he kicked Nathan Wellings in the head during a stoppage in play, resulting in a seizure.

The incident happened in October 2021 when Nathan was playing for Bolton Rugby Union Football Club under 18s at home to Rochdale Rugby Union Football Club.

The attack left Nathan with severe facial injuries and psychological trauma which ended a promising rugby career. Nathan, now aged 21 and a firefighter, praised the police investigation after Embalo was handed a community sentence at Bolton Crown Court this week.

In a victim impact read out in court, Nathan said: "The following months of the recovery period I was physically exhausted and I was mental

See Full Page