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Regional | Cancer

Ruck Cancer Memorial Match

Ruck Cancer NZ was launched this year in partnership with Cancer Society of Wellington, to honor the late Misiluni Moananu, who passed away last year after a short but aggressive fight with Bowel Cancer.

Moananu, was a passionate and dedicated rugby player, coach and volunteer, and Pōneke stalwart, whose death brought the Wellington rugby community together as they mourned this great man and his all too short life.

Evan Belford, a close family friend and former teammate of Misiluni along with another Pōneke stalwart, wanted to honour their late friend and help keep his legacy alive.

A memorial match, a memorial trophy and purple socks for the players, was Evan's idea, to promote cancer awareness and men's health awareness to Wellington's rugby community through the RUCK CANCER NZ programme.

Misiluni played 200+ Premier games for Poneke Football Club, and in 2015 joined the Wellington Football Club (Axemen) to help coach their U21 Colts team. He ended up playing for their Premier team as well.

The ultimate goal is to spread the message throughout the New Zealand rugby community, for men to 'Man Up' go to the doctor and get a 'Check Up'