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Kiwi youngster wins cancer battle

Thursday 27th November 2008

Aaron Cruden: Ready to play once more

Manawatu's 19-year-old fly-half Aaron Cruden has beaten testicular cancer, and will head for a six-day New Zealand U20 camp this Saturday.

Cruden was diagnosed with the cancer during the Air New Zealand Cup, and underwent intensive chemotherapy after an initial operation to remove the ill testicle.

His doctor officially informed him on Tuesday that he was free of the disease for now, although he will need to have regular blood tests and scans to ensure there is no re-occurrence.

He promptly picked up his ball and boots and headed for a local park in Palmerston North, in preparation for the camp.

"Dave Rennie, the head coach, has invited me to a training camp starting on Saturday," Cruden told Yahoo!Xtra.

"He has told me to come along there and do what I feel like I can do. I don't think I will be able to do everything just yet.

"I will go along and do as much as I can. I will do what I can do.

"The cancer did take me out of rugby this year, but I still have lots of rugby to look forward to.

"My short-term goal is to get involved in the U20 camps, play for my club at the start of the season and then hopefully target the New Zealand U20 trials.

"Then I want to be involved again with the Turbos in the Air New Zealand Cup."

Cruden has beaten more than just cancer to get to this point. A bout of tuberculosis stuffed any chance he had of making the NZ schools' side, and simple maths blew his chance of making the 2008 U20 squad; he was born seven days after the age grade cut-off date.

Manawatu had wanted him to join their Air New Zealand Cup squad last year but the attempt was blocked by the NZRU on account of his tender years.

The cancer diagnosis brought to an end the hopes Cruden had harboured of making the Hurricanes' back-up squad - or even the full squad - for 2009.

"Yeah, well that is footy I suppose," he said of his former footy body blows.

"You have to take the bad with the good.

"You never expect to hear that you have cancer at the age of 19, that was a big shock, it's normally something that you expect to happen to people later in life.

"I mean no disrespect, but at the age of 19 my life was just beginning. My rugby was just starting to go along well."

Cruden, after a series of appearances off the bench for Manawatu, started the Turbos' attempt on the Ranfurly Shield against Auckland in August, which would be his final game of the season for the team. He had already been diagnosed, but kept the diagnosis secret from the team. Five days after the game, the testicle was removed.

"That was my first start (for Manawatu) and ended up being my only start," he said.

"I didn't really want to let the team down. I had my own battles off the field and I tried to put that aside for 80 minutes and try and do well."

The Turbos and their fan-base rallied around their team-mate, visiting him in hospital and raising thousands of dollars for the Aaron Cruden Fund which was set up by the local Lions Club.

Manawatu fans also put their hands in their pockets at the final Air New Zealand Cup match of the season, and the messages of goodwill from all over the country were incessant.

"The Turbos are a great bunch of guys," Cruden said.

"I was with them right through the pre-season and I loved every minute of my time with them, so I was pretty gutted that I couldn't be out there with them when they were struggling, not being able to help them."

Former All Black captain Wayne 'Buck' Shelford, himself a cancer-survivor, was one of those who sent goodwill messages to keep Cruden's spirits up, and Cruden would like to emulate Shelford's work for cancer awareness.

"In any way possible I would like to promote the awareness of cancer," he said.

"And that is not just in terms of testicular cancer.

"I don't know how I am going to do that, but it something I want to do now.

"There are so many people and I can't thank them all individually..

"I would like to thank people for not only helping me, but also helping my family for all the support they have shown throughout the tough times.

"I didn't expect anything. I still can't put it into words how grateful I am. It was amazing that the whole country, and not just rugby supporters but everyone, got behind my story.

"I so appreciate it and are very thankful. I don't how I am going to thank everyone, but I will try my best."