Southland rugby player Hoani Macdonald is now out of hospital.
Macdonald, 34, collapsed due to a cardiac arrest during Southland's provincial Championship semi-final loss to Counties-Manukau on 20 October.
Rugby Southland commercial manager Mark Wilson said a cardio-verter defibrillator was implanted in his chest on Friday and was released from Auckland hospital on Saturday.
AAP reports Macdonald was initially treated at Middlemore hospital, but was moved to Auckland hospital specifically for the operation.
He will stay in Auckland in the immediate future to be close to medical support. Wilson said it appeared Macdonald had suffered no long-term damage to his heart.
