THE Principality Premiership match between Bargoed and Ebbw Vale at Bargoed Park was abandoned at half-time after a fan collapsed on the sidelines and needed prolonged treatment with medics using a defibrillator to treat him, writes Geoff Champion and Iwan Gabe Davies.

The spectator is known to many of the Bargoed team as a second XV player and referee Dewi Phillips decided to abandon the game after consulting both teams. 

Bargoed spokesman Peter Greening said: “Our best wishes go to the gentleman involved.

“Both teams' medical staff did a great job and we must also praise the paramedics who got to the ground so quickly.”

Bargoed chairman Neil Carter added: "This was a very serious situation and we are very grateful for the assistance of the Ebbw Vale RFC medical staff as well as our own doctor Alice Groves and both teams' physios. 

"The fact that we had a defibrillator at the field with trained medical personnel certainly made a difference. We are also grateful for the prompt assistance of the paramedics and ambulance crew who attended so quickly."

Mr Carter continued: "The club does not wish to identify the individual for obvious reasons but all at Bargoed RFC are hoping that he makes a full recovery and our best wishes go to him and his family".

Ebbw Vale club secretary Ian James said: "I have to say the medical staff from both teams were unbelievable. We were lucky to be at a ground that had such facilities."

Ebbw were leading 15-3 at the time and a decision will be made in due course about the rearrangement of the game.