WARNING: Graphic Images

AMONG the list of common injuries players are at risk of on the rugby field, the amputation of digits appears not once.

Unfortunately, Argentinian rugby player Daniel Contreras may have become the first player to suffer such an injury during a game.

Playing for Corsarios Rugby Club in the Argentinian province of Tucuman, Contreras had the end of his little finger completely bitten off by a member of the opposition.

Contreras was reportedly competing for the ball at the breakdown, when the opposition player grabbed his hand and placed the finger in his mouth.

Described by Americas Rugby News as “rugby cannibalism”, the victim said that he had never heard of this ever happening in his almost three decades of playing the sport.

“In the 29 years I’ve been playing rugby, I never saw anything like it,” Contreras said.

“I could not believe it. The referee asked me to leave the game to see a doctor. I did not react because my wife and my daughters were at the field.”

While the end of Contreras’ finger was in fact recovered from the pitch, doctors at a local hospital said they would be unable to reattach the piece of the digit, as it was covered in soil and the chance of a bacterial infection was likely.

The player was allegedly told it would take up to three months until he would be able to play again.

Tucuman Rugby Union, the governing body over the regional development league, condemned the actions of the player in question, claiming they would take appropriate action to ensure the incident did not occur again.

“Events like this have no relationship with the spirit and values ​​that tout our sport,” a statement said.

“For that reason, we affirm that there can not be and must be eradicated. We will take appropriate action and act as established by the regulation.”

While it is likely the first time a player has fallen victim to such a savage injury, here’s hoping it is also the last.