Horrific collision KO’s French internationals as teammates stop play immediately

Jared Wright
Charles Ollvion and Jonathan Danty collide during the Top 14.

Charles Ollvion and Jonathan Danty collide during the Top 14.

France internationals Charles Ollivon and Jonathan Danty were involved in a horrific head collision during the opening round of the 2024/25 Top 14 season.

Toulon and La Rochelle faced off at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in the opening round of the new season, and it was at a scrum that the unfortunate incident occurred.

Ollivon and Danty KO’ed

La Rochelle looked to extend their 7-3 lead in the 25th minute but were denied as Tawera Kerr-Barlow slapped the ball forward to Jack Nowell.

That gave Toulon a scrum just five metres from their line. Needing to clear their lines, Les Bleus star Ollivon looked to carry from the back of the scrum and had Danty charging at him to make the tackle.

The pair dipped their heads before contact and thundered head-first into one another. The collision seemingly knocked out both players as their respective teammates quickly called for the game to be stopped immediately and called for medics.

Thankfully, both players were able to get back to their feet and walk off the pitch with neither returning to the action.

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Play resumed with a Toulon scrum with the officials finding that neither player was at fault for the incident.

The closely fought encounter would ultimately end in a La Rochelle victory with Dillyn Leyds and Georges-Henri Colombe crossing the whitewash after Kerr-Barlow’s early score.

Coaches’ update

Gael Drean scored early in the second-half for Toulon and he grabbed another with five minutes left on the clock but Ronan O’Gara’s side were able to hold out for the 19-15 Top 14 win.

Despite the concerning scenes, both head coaches said that their players were in good spirits after the match.

“It’s not too serious. It’s a small concussion. Duncan (Paia’aua), same thing. There are no serious injuries. The doctor said he couldn’t come back – it’s not too bad,” Toulon boss Pierre Mignoni said.

On Danty’s injury, O’Gara said: “I think the blow was severe. He was in good shape in the locker room, with his son, but the most important thing is how he will sleep tonight before undergoing other tests tomorrow. We will not take any risks with him.”

READ MORE: ‘Not off your referral’ – English ref hits out at All Blacks coach after suspected foul play

France Charles Ollivon Jonathan Danty

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