Bishops 1st XV coach Richard Smith is in an induced coma after a robbery at his home on Tuesday night.

According to the Bishops Rugby Facebook page, Smith suffered a severe head injury when intruders entered his Claremont home in what appears to be a robbery.

SARugbymag.co.za understands there were four intruders, and Smith was stabbed in the head. The coach was rushed to Vincent Pallotti hospital, where he underwent an emergency operation. The school confirmed on Thursday that Smith's condition is critical and that he has been placed in an induced coma.

Smith's wife, Nina, and two children, Laura and Sebastian, were also at home at the time of the invasion, but were left unharmed. 

On Wednesday, Bishops pupils paid tribute to the coach: