Cal rugby player paralyzed after injury in championship game

Robert Paylor has only limited movement in his arms and is paralyzed below the chest.

A University of California rugby player was left paralyzed below the chest after an injury in the Golden Bears’ Varsity Cup championship match against Arkansas State on Saturday, the school announced. 

Robert Paylor, a sophomore, had surgery Saturday night and has “limited motion in his arms,” his family said in a statement. 

A GoFundMe page set up to help cover Paylor’s medical costs has raised over $242,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. 

“Our team is devastated by Rob's injury,” Cal rugby coach Jack Clark said in a statement. “There aren't words to adequately explain our sorrow for what he and his family are going through. Rob is an extraordinary teammate, friend and student-athlete. As a University-recognized Scholar Athlete, he represents everything that is right and true about collegiate athletics. His challenges will be severe, long in duration and difficult beyond measure. Our team intends to be there with him every bit of the way.”

A prayer service for Paylor is scheduled for Thursday night in Berkeley.