Max Brito

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Max Brito (born April 8, 1971 in Senegal) is a former Rugby Union player who represented the Ivory Coast at international level. As a result of injuries sustained at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, he was paralyzed.

The game (between Ivory Coast and Tonga) was three minutes old when Brito, running out of defence, was tackled by Inoke Afeaki, the Tonga flanker, before several players fell on top of Brito, leaving him prone and motionless on the ground. Brito was taken to the intensive care unit of the Unitas Hospital in Pretoria where medical staff worked to treat damage to his vertebrae. Operations to stabilize the fourth and fifth vertebrae of his neck offered hope but Brito was left paralyzed below the neck.

"This was a tragic and freak accident, but we are very concerned about spinal injuries in rugby. Law changes have depowered the scrum but the tackle is still a major problem," said Etienne Hugo, chairman of the South African rugby medical committee and an orthopedic surgeon who treated Brito.

Brito was a skilful and committed winger who played his club rugby for Biscarosse in south west France. An electrician by trade, he was noticeable on the field for his long dreadlocks as well as his brave play. He gained all three of his caps for the Ivorian national team in the 1995 World Cup. Brito came on as a substitute in the opening game against Scotland which the Ivory Coast lost by 89 points to nil, a result which led many to question the inclusion of "minor" teams in the tournament. However, he was instrumental in Les Elephants vastly improved performance against France a few days later. Brito's fearless tackling helped to keep the score to a very respectable 54-18. In the last act of his rugby career, Brito caught a high ball beautifully whilst running towards his own tryline, before turning and embarking upon a typically gutsy run into the heart of the Tongan defence.

Brito has now been paralyzed for twelve years. He reportedly has some limited movement in his chest and arms, but is bedridden most of the time. He and his wife have separated and he now lives with his parents in Bordeaux. He has two teenage sons. Although he received monetary compensation following his injury, some people have been critical of the way that the plight of Brito has been allowed to fade into obscurity.