after being involved in a horrific bike crash.

But the All Blacks forward will have to stay on a general ward at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital until doctors give him the all-clear to go home.

Forty-year-old Wilson, on the Island for the World Rugby Classic, came off his rented moped during a collision with a water truck on Friday night.

He suffered a broken leg, punctured lung, back and facial injuries and a gash to his right arm during the accident on St. John's Road, Pembroke.

A hospital spokeswoman last night said he was in a "stable'' condition.

She added: "Mr. Wilson came in and was admitted through the intensive care unit but his condition improved and he is now on a general ward.'' Wilson, who plays hooker and was capped eight times for the full New Zealand international team, had to miss his side's defeat in the third-place play-off match against South Africa on Saturday.

Now he will have to make his own arrangements to fly home to Auckland after the rest of the New Zealand team left Bermuda yesterday.

Captain Andy Haden, who stayed at the Belmont Hotel in Warwick, and four other All Blacks visited Wilson in hospital before checking out.

And fellow New Zealand player Jock Ross was the first to check on his teammate's progress as soon as he heard about the accident, just after 8 p.m.

on Friday.

Tournament organiser John Kane told The Royal Gazette : "We were shocked at first because we just didn't know what happened.

"All we were told was that Brett came off his bike somewhere near Pitts Bay Road and suffered serious injuries.

"We were all just keeping our fingers crossed that the news wasn't going to be too bad and we were very relieved that it wasn't any worse.

"Otherwise, everybody would have had a very bad feeling and it would have ruined what ended up as a great week.

"He'll probably be going home next week some time and we'll obviously take care of any arrangements that need to be sorted out.

"Thankfully it didn't spoil the rugby, which was atended by many more people this time and we're all very enthusiastic for next year's event.'' A Police spokeswoman said: "We know that his injuries are serious and they are extensive.

"This was a very serious road traffic accident. We got the emergency call at 8.12 p.m. and Police investigations have begun.'' RUGBY RUG