Jayden Broome, 19, was on the roof of a two-storey Castle St property in Dunedin taking pictures with friends on Monday night when he slid down the roof and fell on to the pavement.
He is in a stable condition in a coma in hospital, the Southland Tribune reported.
The University of Otago student had just returned from Christchurch after captaining the Southland under-19 team when the accident happened.
Most of the people who were at the gathering stayed inside while a few went to the roof to take photos.
Broome played as a loose forward for Varsity A in the Dunedin Premier Rugby competition last season and played for the Stags earlier this year in a pre-season game.
He also made New Zealand Māori under-18 team last year while at Māruawai College in Gore.
Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing.
A University of Otago spokeswoman said their thoughts were with the student and his family.
