Kavanagh College assistant principal Colin MacLeod said an operation on Kavanagh College year 12 pupil Matt Martin at Dunedin Hospital had stopped the bleeding on his brain after Matt suffered a head injury at a schoolboy rugby match on Saturday.
Matt would remain in an induced coma while he recovered.
''To let the body recover, they are keeping him out for a day or two yet. A complete recovery is possible, and what we are hoping for, but we won't know for a wee while yet.''
Matt's family were upset, Mr MacLeod said.
Kavanagh College First XV coach Ant Harris said Matt was halfback for the Kavanagh College First XV.
On Saturday, the team was playing King's High School's second XV in an under-18 grade match at Dunedin Rugby Football Club, in St Clair.
With about three minutes of the match remaining, Matt was tackled across the chest in a ''hard, legitimate'' tackle that caused a sudden whipping to his neck and head.
''It was his head going back and hitting the ground that was the impact that caused some bleeding to the brain.''
The referee saw the impact and stopped the game.
''He [Matt] was OK immediately after, he was on the ground but not knocked out,'' Mr Harris said.
''The physio came out and asked him a few questions - what the date was and what the score was - and he answered those fine.
''He knew where he was and he knew what the score was.''
Matt was wearing headgear.
After the tackle, Mr Harris went on the field to check on Matt, who was joking with the King's players, he said.
But minutes after passing the concussion test, he collapsed.
''He was about to put the ball into a scrum.
''As he went to bend over, he fell to his knees and there he stayed.
''He was concussed from that moment on.''
The game was called off.
The incident had been difficult to watch, Mr Harris said.
''Not just me, for all our boys, it's pretty hard.''
The school had provided a support group for pupils on Sunday.
''We got everyone together; we just need to be around each other at the moment. It's bloody tough.''
The ''talented'' halfback had a leadership role in the team.
''The boys look up to him and he takes it on himself.
''He's not the captain but, next year, would have been.''
He was hopeful Matt would have a full recovery with minimal ''long-term impacts'' from the injury, he said.
''He has a long road ahead of him so we are getting everyone together and just hoping for the best outcome.''
