The uncle of Eli Katoa has revealed the Tonga star is in a stable condition but asked for more prayers as the second-rower battles to make a full recovery.

Katoa underwent emergency surgery to ease pressure on his brain following a series of head knocks while playing for Tonga against New Zealand.

Katoa was rushed to hospital after reportedly having seizures on the sidelines.

He copped a heavy head knock during his team's warm-up yet was cleared to play, but then went on to suffer two more blows to the head, leaving him needing oxygen on the sideline, before being rushed to hospital.

"At the moment, he's doing much better,'' Katoa's uncle Reverend Setelo told Tongan Radio station PMN.

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"He has been moved from the Int

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