ROBINS star Darcy Ward has had to undergo surgery after suffering a serious spinal injury whilst riding for Falubaz Zielona Góra.

The condition of Ward at this moment is not known and Swindon Robins boss Alun Rossiter has called on speculation surrounding the injury to stop.

“It’s a time when lots of things are happening and it is a time that everyone should take a step back,” said Rossiter, who indicated that Ward's father is flying to Poland to see him.

“I think we should stop the speculation out of respect to him and his family, who we are all thinking about.

“I don’t believe it is for everyone else to speculate what it is. It should come from the people who are in the know.”

More should become clear on the extent of Ward's injuries when the club hold a press briefing with Dr Robert Zapotocznego at midday (BST).

"At 13:00 in Olimp Sports Medicine Centre in Zielona Gora, press briefing will be held with the participation of Dr. Robert Zapotocznego, who will present current information about the health of Darcy Ward," read a club statement.

"Please respect the gravity of the situation and to refrain from any comments until the briefing."

Ward flipped over the handlebars of his bike after a collision in heat 15 of the meeting between GKM Grudziadz and Zielona Gora yesterday.

Ward's parent club in the UK, Poole Pirates, were told Ward had suffered a spinal injury, for which he underwent surgery and he had no feeling in his lower body.

Poole boss Neil Middleditch and close friend Chris Holder, the Pirates’ number one, have both flown independently to Poland to be with Ward.

In a statement on the Pirates' website, owner Matt Ford said: 

"There is not much that can be done other than to show Darcy that he has the support of everyone.

"I have been touched learning of the number of messages that have been flooding in for Darcy since the news began to filter through that his injuries were serious, but that is simply typical of the speedway family and the esteem that the riders are held in within our great sport, a sport that at times can be so cruel.

"All I can say is that the speedway family continue to keep Darcy very much in their thoughts and prayers as we await further news on his condition."