Former Crusaders and Highlanders outside back Telusa Veainu required surgery to fix a broken jaw following a controversial incident while playing for English club Leicester.
Veainu, who represented Tonga at the 2015 World Cup, was hurt while taking a high ball during his side's 33-10 loss to Irish club Munster in their European Champions Cup tie last weekend.
The incident provoked a sharp response from Leicester coach Matt O'Connor, who insinuated that Munster player Andrew Conway didn't take enough "care" of Veainu during the collision.
Despite the Irish wing being concussed during the incident, O'Conner was not prepared to let him off the hook - alleging he "smashed" his head into the face of Veainu at Thomond Park in Limerick.
"Well, one guy's got a broken jaw," O'Connor told the Irish Times. "That's what I'm annoyed about. Surely there's a duty of care? How's it not a high tackle when he clashed heads and smashed him in his face with his head?
"We're talking about seat-belt tackles, which are an absolute non-event. And a bloke's got a broken jaw."
Veainu suffered a double fracture to the jaw and will be out of action for several months. He was led from the field and flew home with the rest of the team on Sunday morning (NZT).
"It is very disappointing," said O'Connor. "I said immediately after the game there is a duty of care for the ball carrier and Telusa has been seriously injured after a collision with an opposition's shoulder and head which will make him miss a key part of the season.
"We look forward to his full recovery and getting him back on the field in due course."
Veainu played for the Crusaders in 2013 and the Highlanders in 2011 and 2012. He also represented the New Zealand under-20 team in 2010.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES. Caption: Telusa Veainu, pictured playing for Tonga in their pool match against the All Blacks at the 2015 World Cup, suffered a broken jaw while playing for English club Leicester.