Andrew Strawbridge Improving

Chiefs assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge’s condition has improved after he was taken seriously ill last week while in Samoa.

Strawbridge remains in a serious condition but is now awake and communicating with his family, the Chiefs said in an update on Thursday.

Straw bridge works closely with the Samoa national side was in the country working as a technical advisor for last week’s Test against New Zealand when he was taken seriously ill on a flight.

An eye infection led to him being hospitalised before Strawbridge was flown back to New Zealand in an air ambulance last Friday, with his recovery continuing at Waikato hospital.

"Andrew Strawbridge is awake and in a serious, stable condition in the Waikato Hospital Intensive Care Unit,” said a Chiefs statement.

"Despite not being out of the woods yet, Strawbridge has been talking to medical staff and to his wife Laura and sister Susan.”