World Rugby to the rescue

Jamaica Crocs team manager Cherine Richards has said that national player Omar Dixon had a second eye surgery and is in good spirits as he recovers.

However, the Jamaica Rugby Football Union (JRFU) still has an issue of repaying world governing body World Rugby, who covered the cost of the surgery.

"The need was so immediate that the surgery had to have been done and World Rugby paid for it and we owe them, so we have to reimburse them," Richards told The Sunday Gleaner.

She said that Dixon was told by doctors that he would not be able to fly out of Hong Kong for three weeks. She added that a contact in Hong Kong told her that the player was "actually in pretty good spirits for a young fella who's been through the wringer".

"Omar is OK. He did the surgery and he's recovering. We now just need to find the funds to cover the cost," Richards said.

Richards had previously said that the JRFU would be trying to come up with the funds (roughly US$40,000, or JA$5 million) needed to cover the costs and, in doing so, it has launched a GoFundMe account. However, she also made an appeal to the public to contribute to the cause by donating to the JRFU's Scotiabank account.

Dixon was injured during the Crocs' opening Hong Kong Sevens game against Germany last week when a high boot to the head concussed him, detached the retina in his right eye and cracked its socket.

Doctors say once he makes a full recovery, he should be playing again within three months.