Cheetahs winger rushed to hospital after having trouble breathing

There was some concern for Cheetahs' winger William Small-Smith who was rushed to hospital after having trouble breathing during training.

The 27-year-old was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation with the Cheetahs confirming to Sport24 that emergency services were contacted immediately and that Small-Smith was taken to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic.

Cheetahs coach Franco Smith visited Small-Smith on Thursday and he is confident that he will make a full recovery soon.

"It was a shortness of breath and fortunately not as serious as we suspected," Smith told Netwerk24.

"Everyone was very frightened, but it was handled well by the medical staff."

Smith confirmed that the winger was in a stable condition after spending the night in the hospital and could return to action as soon as next week.

Further tests are being conducted, but the Cheetahs added that doctors had informed them that the problem was not concussion or head related, but rather a breathing issue.

Small-Smith had been included in the side to play against the Golden Lions on Friday night, but his place will now be taken by Tapiwa Mafura.