A YOUNG rugby player is critically ill after breaking his neck in a freak accident during a match.

Last night, there were fears that 16-year-old David Azhar, of Barrhead, Renfrewshire, could be paralysed permanently.from the neck down. Doctors said they would have to wait until the swelling subsided before they could predict the long-term effects.

The schoolboy was injured on Saturday while playing prop forward for Glasgow-based Whitecraigs under-18s against West of Scotland.

He was left lying on the turf unable to move after a scrum collapsed. The game was immediately halted and initial first aid was administered by the father of a West player, a doctor who had been spectating.

He realised how serious the injury was and took charge as an ambulance drove on to the pitch before David, a pupil at Barrhead High School, was taken to the specialist spinal injury unit at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.

Spectators, team-mates and opponents broke down in tears in the Whitecraigs clubhouse after learning of the seriousness of the injury.

Kevin McKenzie, the Whitecraigs player-coach, was involved in a BT Cellnet Cup tie against Scottish League champions Hawick on an adjacent pitch when the accident happened.

Mr McKenzie was forced to abandon a flourishing international career five years ago after being sidelined with a potentially serious neck-disc problem.

He said: ''It is always distressing for this sort of thing to happen in sport, especially when the victim is so young.

''The thoughts of everyone at the club are with David and his family and we hope that the damage is not as severe as it initially appears to be.''

Ian Cooper, the West of Scotland president, yesterday sent a letter of sympathy to his Whitecraigs counterpart, Ronnie Barr.

Mr Cooper said: ''At a time like this, it is hard to find words to express our feelings, but it is very hard to have a stomach for rugby in this situation.

''Our lads were extremely upset in the aftermath of the accident and we are keeping our fingers crossed for David.

''We have been through this sort of trauma at our club. About 10 years ago, one of our promising young players, David Millar, was left almost totally paralysed for life after breaking his neck during a rugby visit to New Zealand.

''I just hope there is not any kind of knee-jerk reaction to what has happened because rugby is essentially a safe sport when played properly.''

Charles Court-Brown, ortho-paedic trauma consultant at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, said last night the incident was uncommon. ''However, it is ghastly when it arises. If he is paralysed, then the prognosis is poor.''

He said rugby was not the only sport with problems. ''Two years ago, five horse riders were paralysed in cross country falls. There are also problems with hillwalking, rock climbing, parachuting and boxing.''

Bill Watson, Scottish Rugby Union chief executive, said: ''Everyone connected with the sport in this country will be shocked and saddened by what has happened at Whitecraigs.

''We will be liaising closely with the club with a view to offering David and his family any support necessary.''