Former All Blacks rugby hardman Shelford battles cancer

Former All Blacks captain Wayne "Buck" Shelford, one of international rugby's iconic hardmen, is battling cancer, his wife told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper.

"We found out a month ago and he has five more months of treatment," Jo Shelford said. "We are very positive and pleased with how the treatment is going."

The famous backrower No. 8 is being treated for lymphoma, a cancer affecting white blood cells.

Shelford, 49, captained the All Blacks from 1987 to 1990 during a golden era when they never lost a game.

His reputation as a fearless, uncomprising player was born from his second international in 1986 when in a Test against France his scrotum was torn open, leaving one testicle hanging out.

He calmly told the team physio to stitch the wound and carried on playing.

"I was knocked out cold, lost a few teeth and had a few stitches down below," he later recalled of that game.

"It's a game I still can't remember -- I have no memory of it whatsoever."

The All Blacks lost the match 16-3, the only time Shelford was on the losing side during his distinguished 22-Test career.

When he was dropped from the All Blacks in 1990 there was a national "Bring Back Buck" campaign, which was ignored by the New Zealand selectors, and he moved to England where he coached successfully for several seasons.

source : news.yahoo.com