A Queanbeyan football player has been charged after allegedly punching a rival player outside a hotel in Orange on the weekend.
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The Orange footballer was flown to Westmead Hospital on Sunday with a serious head injury after being punched outside the Royal Hotel in the early hours of the morning.
Adam Ford, 29, was unconscious on the footpath when paramedics arrived at the hotel at 2.34am on Sunday.
He was taken to Orange Health Service and later flown to Westmead Hospital where he underwent several hours of emergency surgery while in a critical condition for a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain.
A 23-year-old man from Queanbeyan was arrested at 6.30am Sunday and charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm with a second charge of causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent.
The man's strict bail conditions include not returning to Orange until he appears in court next month.
Mr Ford had earlier played a pre-season rugby league trial match with Orange Hawks against the visiting Coogee Dolphins, with Orange CYMS playing Queanbeyan Blues in another game.
Orange Hawks Rugby League Club president John Hill said the thoughts of all team members and officials were with Mr Ford and his family.
"We are all hoping and praying he can come through this and our thoughts are with his wife Susie and his family," Mr Hill said.
Head of Orange's Liquor Accord and Kelly's Hotel publican Bill Kelly said team members and officials from CYMS and the Queanbeyan side had dinner and a presentation at the hotel, but left before midnight.
"There were no problems here at all and they left but they must have decided to continue on," he said. "This is very unfortunate."
It has since been reported that the man charged was a Queanbeyan player.
Mr Hill said he had dined with Hawks and Coogee Dolphins players when they went to the Royal Hotel following the pre-season trial.
"There was no animosity at all and everything seemed fine. I left about 10.30pm," Mr Hill said.
Late yesterday Mr Ford remained in a critical condition following surgery.
Inspector Peter Atkins of Orange police said anyone with information who may have witnessed the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
