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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 mentally drained with visits to the hospital in the middle of the night, early hours of the morning and GP appointments. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "Mentally I was in a bad place. I was having constant sleepless nights and feeling pain 24/7. Not only that, I felt embarrassed and insecure to see anyone as I hated the way my face looked after the mess it was in after the assault." He described the attack as 'life-changing' saying his 'dream job of being a professional rugby player was shattered'. Nathan said he was left with 'frustration, anger and sadness, adding: "How could someone do this?" Embalo, now 21, of Tweedale Street in Rochdale, was handed a two-year community order after he admitted a single offence of GBH on the eve of a trial. He was also ordered to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activity; 250 hours of unpaid work; and was placed on a two-month electronically-monitored curfew which requires him to be at home between 9pm and 6am. He was charged with section 18 GBH, a more serious offence which stipulates an intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Embalo denied that offence, but the day the trial was due to start prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to section 20 GBH, a lesser crime in which offenders are reckless rather than intent on causing harm. Prosecutors told the court the defendant lost his temper during the game and kicked the victim in the head more than once, causing Nathan to suffer a fit and be rushed to hospital. He was left with post-concussion syndrome, the court was told. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the hearing, Nathan said: "Rugby was my life. I was playing seven days a week. As soon as that happened it put a halt on my entire life. My life got flipped upside down. It was absolutely horrific." The second row said he hasn't played rugby again and his ambition to have a career in rugby ended. He recalled coming round on the pitch and then seeing his mother and girlfriend before being taken to Royal Bolton Hospital. Nathan added: "I was in absolute agony. My head was banging like a drum and my shoulder was in pieces. I remember them giving me drugs to help with the pain. I had aspirations of carrying on with rugby. Psychologically, it has been horrific." Nathan's mother, Adele Wellings, an NHS sonographer, was watching the game from the sidelines when the attack happened. She said: "I remember the referee had stopped the game because both sides were getting a bit lairy." She said she saw Embalo run over to her son from behind, grab his shirt and pull him to the ground. "The boy then started kicking Nathan in the head. I was screaming 'he's kicking him'," she said. The referee split a group of players and when Adele ran over she said she saw her son unconscious with blood coming from facial wounds and having a seizure which last six minutes. Adele said she cradled her son's head and noticed his pulse was 'weak'. "I genuinely didn't think he was going to make it," she said, adding: "I remember the coaches saying 'it's just rugby - it's just rugby'. It's not just rugby." A statement from the Rugby Football Union said: "We are aware of the incident and of the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. Our thoughts remain with Nathan and his family, and we recognise the significant impact this incident has had on him both at the time and in the years since, having remained in touch with the family throughout. "At the time of the incident, the matter was immediately referred to the appropriate safeguarding and disciplinary channels and an interim suspension order was put in place. "Once a criminal investigation commenced, our ability to comment publicly or take action was limited so as not to interfere with the legal process. We will now review the outcome of the court case and any information arising from it to determine whether further action is required under our disciplinary framework. "We remain committed to ensuring that rugby is a safe and respectful environment for all participants, and we continue to work to uphold those standards." A statement from Bolton RUFC said: "Firstly, everyone at Bolton RUFC is deeply saddened that after four years Nathan is still suffering the effects of this horrific incident. Bolton prides itself on supporting players, officials, and families through all nature of events and our highest priority at every level is and will always be the safety and wellbeing of it's members." A Rochdale Rugby Union Football Club spokesperson said: "It will be welcome news, not least to Mr Wellings and his family that the long outstanding case and justice system have finally concluded their actions against Mr Embalo. We empathise with the Wellings family's anxieties concerning the time the case has taken to run its course. "Immediately following the incident, which was reported to the RFU, Mr David Barnes (RFU Head of Discipline ) became involved. Mr Embalo was suspended from all further rugby activity. The RFU has, as you would expect and would be usual, taken its own disciplinary action against him. "As part of that process, the RFU suspended and commenced disciplinary action against Mr Embalo under RFU laws. Mr Embalo has certainly not played since the incident. He has ceased to be a member of Rochdale RUFC. "Rochdale RUFC is very much a family and wholly amateur community club. The majority of our players, volunteers and members have come through our ranks over many years. Mr Embalo was only very briefly over a few weeks involved with Rochdale RUFC; he did not come through our junior rugby system but was introduced to Rochdale via Myerscough School, who have an established rugby program." They added Embalo had only played a few games for Rochdale's Colts team, including the game the incident took place in. They said: "We were extremely concerned, upset, and dismayed to learn of the manner in which Mr Embalo chose to act during this game. For the avoidance of any doubt, I confirm on behalf of Rochdale RUFC and its members that such actions and misconduct have absolutely no place in any sport, least of all rugby union, or elsewhere. "Whilst rugby may be a physical game, respect for opponents lies at its heart. Rochdale RUFC has a zero tolerance to such misbehaviour. Indeed, Rochdale RUFC is as an RFU accredited club, absolutely committed to promoting and maintaining rugby union’s core values: teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship. "Furthermore, we sincerely trust that Nathan can and will continue to full recovery and that with assistance of his loved ones and the wider rugby family he is able to make good progress."
