Joy, pain, then relief for injured Caleb

Caleb Morrison sustained a broken nose during his Man of the Match performance for Ballymena Academy in last week’s showpiece final at Ravenhill - but was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on Wednesday with an infected haematoma.

The Year 13 pupil – who scored a try in the St Patrick’s Day 10-7 victory over Belfast Royal Academy – was released from hospital last week after undergoing an intensive course of antibiotics for the infected clot.

“I didn’t really know what was happening to me. I knew I had this haematoma but I was sure there was something more wrong with me after I passed out on Wednesday," said Caleb.

“I didn’t feel well at all and had been taking a lot of painkillers – but the doctors and the nurses have been great and I am just happy to be out now and can’t wait to get back playing again.”

“I still have to get the haematoma drained and get my nose set, but I hope to be playing for the Academy in the game against the Barbarians at the end of April.”

His relieved father, Tom, manager of the triumphant Academy team, said: “It had been such a fantastic few days for Caleb and his team-mates - we never ever thought that a week later we would have to rush him to hospital.

“He had lost a lot of blood during the match, but typical of Caleb, he just wanted to get cleaned up and get back on the pitch – that’s the way he is.

“He had been in a bit of pain with the broken nose since the game, but otherwise he was okay. We took him to the Ulster Hospital where they discovered the haematoma [blood clot] above his nose," added Tom.