A Championship rugby league clash has been delayed after a serious injury was sustained following a ‘horror tackle’.

Widnes Vikings are at home to Doncaster in a Championship clash which kicked off at 3 pm, however, the game has seen a delay of over an hour following serious injury to one of the home team’s players.

Trailing 10-0, Widnes saw outside back Jake Maizen go down after a heavy tackle with the Italian international stretchered off in the aftermath.

Posting on their social media, the Championship outfit said: “Horror tackle on Maizen who’s both caught high and bent backwards in the tackle. Long break in play here as he receives treatment.”

They would follow that up, posting: “Bizarre scenes here as the referee heads down the tunnel. Play is suspended as we await the doctor’s assessment of Maizen’s injury.”

That second update was shared at 3:45 pm and the club have since provided a further update with play only restarting at 4:37 pm, over an hour after the initial incident.

Rugby League match delayed for an hour as player stretchered off

Posting at 4:10 pm, when the game should have been already into the second-half, Widnes provided an update on Maizen and explained why play had not restarted

They confirmed: “Jake is stable and being monitored by medical staff but the doctor needs to remain with the player at this time.

“We apologise for the delay but player welfare is priority.

“Play remains suspended and we will update again when we can.”

All rugby league games require a doctor present at all time and with the doctor still attending to Maizen, it meant play could not resume, however, that has changed now.

Play restarted at just after 4:30 pm with Widnes confirming that Doncaster’s Edene Gebbie had been sent off for the initial tackle. Incredibly, Doncaster then saw another man sent off just minutes after the restart with Suaia Matagi sent off for a high shot.

Widnes’ Nick Gregson was sent to the sin bin for running in but the home side will have a two-man advantage once he returns. Despite going down to 11, Doncaster extended their lead to 14-0 on the half hour mark.