Worcester Warriors

Fatialofa, 28, suffered a bad neck injury in a game in January 2020 and spent months in hospital, including a stay at a specialist rehabilitation unit in Buckinghamshire.

The former Hurricanes lock has posted on social media that “hopefully the Worcester Warriors will pay my hospital bill this year’’.

But the Warriors have issued a statement saying they were “disappointed’’ by Fatialofa’s comment and have insisted neither they nor the New Zealander should have to pay anything more.

It was feared the former Hurricanes lock might never walk again after suffering a serious neck injury during a Premiership game 13 months ago.

Fatialofa was left temporarily paralysed and spent almost three weeks in intensive care in London before being moved to a private rehab unit because the NHS Hospital next door was full.

In July, Fatialofa received a six figure bill for his stay at the Private Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital and tweeted overnight that he was still waiting on Worcester Warriors to pay the outstanding fee.

It was feared the New Zealand-born flanker might never walk again after suffering a serious neck injury in a Premiership game on January 4th.

Fatialofa spent almost three weeks in intensive care in London.

He was then transferred to a rehab unit at the private Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.

He should have been moved to the NHS Stoke Mandeville hospital next door, but there were no beds available.

And he has now received a bill, reported to be $200,000 for his time at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.

The 27-year-old suffered serious spinal injuries playing for Worcester against Saracens in the Premiership on 4 January.

Having spent five months in hospital - the first of them in the Intensive Care Unit of St Mary's Hospital in London - Fatialofa made remarkable progress during four months at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in Aylesbury.

He was discharged 11 days ago and returned to Sixways today to continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of Warriors' medical staff.

New Zealand-based Vui, who can play at lock forward or in the back row, earned his first cap for Samoa against France last month.

"Chris is a big, powerful and adaptable forward," said head coach Carl Hogg.

"He will certainly add some strength to our pack and, at just 23, he is an experienced leader."

Vui captained New Zealand side North Harbour to the Mitre 10 Championship title in October, having played for Auckland Blues in the 2015 Super Rugby campaign.

He previously represented New Zealand Under-20s in the 2013 World Rugby Championship.

BBC reports the 30-year-old most recently played for Bath, who released him after he pleaded guilty to an assault charge.

He is the fifth forward among the Warriors' seven close-season signings, but the first since Dean Ryan left to become the Rugby Football Union's head of international player development.

"Everything is in place for you to succeed at Sixways," said Faosiliva.

"Warriors are an ambitious club with a clear vision, which is something that really appealed to me."