Bicester flanker Adam Willmore has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing a kidney.

Willmore, 23, who has made a handful of first-team appearances, collapsed to the ground following a routine tackle during Bicester 2nd's BB&O Division 2 North game against Milton Keynes 3rd.

It was thought he had suffered a rib injury, but when he failed to get up the game was stopped and an ambulance was called.

He was taken to the Churchill Hospital in Headington, where he spent several days in the intensive care unit.

The game, which Bicester won 29-7, later restarted.

Earlier this week, Willmore , who lives in Maytree Close, Bicester, had an operation to repair the damage.

He is due to leave hospital tomorrow after having fluid drained from the kidney.

"It was very serious, but he's out of the woods now. We are hoping and praying he will be ok and the doctors are optimisitic they will save the kidney," said Bicester press officer Paul Chrisp.

"He definitely won't play again this season.

"If they can save it, and the odds are that they will be, he will playing again next season.

"But if the worst comes to the worst and he loses it, he will be ok to carry on his normal life, but he won't be able to play rugby again.

"I have to stress that the injury wasn't the result of dirty play, it was just a minor knock, but it happened to be on a weak part of his kidney.

"Apparently, there was a million-to-one chance of it happening.

"It took the gloss off a superb performance by the first team against Oxford."