VETERAN NRL forward Cameron Ciraldo spent the last night of his playing career in hospital after suffering a rare abdominal injury at the Rugby League World Cup.
Ciraldo is likely to require surgery before he can return home from the tournament after he suffered a lacerated pancreas in Italy’s 16-0 loss to Tonga in Halifax on Sunday night.
It was Ciraldo’s his last game as a professional player, with the 29-year-old to take up a coaching role with his NRL club Penrith next season.
The former Newcastle and Cronulla forward was rushed to hospital by ambulance after complaining of back and stomach problems when he arrived back at the team’s Leeds base after Sunday’s match.