Dunedin schoolboy Matt Martin has been woken from an induced coma, but the recovery process will be long, Kavanagh College staff say.
Acting principal Steve Read visited Dunedin Hospital last night and said Matt (17) was in a ''serious but stable'' condition.
Principal Tracey O'Brien, in Bay of Plenty on bereavement leave, said he received a text message from Kavanagh College First XV manager Bob King late yesterday morning that Matt was ''awake and responsive''.
Assistant principal Colin MacLeod said it was too soon to comment on Matt's condition.
''There are different sorts of ways of being responsive,'' he said.
''I don't know if he's entering into full conversations, or anything like that.''
But the school had not had any ''negative news'' on Matt's condition, he said.
''They haven't found anything that could be even more sinister as the swelling comes down - any additional bleeding or a clot.''
The road to recovery would be long, he said.
A First XV spokesman said the team would train tonight and was dedicating the final three games of the season to Matt.
Matt hit his head on the ground after a legitimate tackle during a under-18 grade match against King's High School, at Dunedin Rugby Football Club's Kettle Park grounds on Saturday.
Matt, who was wearing headgear, passed on-field concussion tests and appeared unhurt but collapsed a few moments later as he was about to feed the ball into a scrum.
