All Blacks: Cancer survivor to All Black - survival of the fittest

Medical marvel: Aaron Cruden. Photo / Getty Images

The sportsman Aaron Cruden most admires is Lance Armstrong and now he has something in common with the seven-times Tour de France winner - they have both overcome testicular cancer to reach the pinnacle of their sports.

Yesterday, the 21-year-old first five was named in Graham Henry's 26-man All Black squad for next month's home tests against Wales and Ireland.

Two years ago, he was contemplating a different scenario when he was diagnosed with cancer just before a Ranfurly Shield challenge for Manawatu against Auckland. A lump in his groin was worrying him and he received the diagnosis just days before the challenge.

He kept the news to himself and his family, played the match, then had surgery to remove the cancerous testicle. Nine weeks of gruelling chemotherapy followed.

"You never expect to hear you have cancer at the age of 19," Cruden said after being given the all-clear around Christmas 2008. "That was a big shock ... my life was just beginning. My rugby was just starting to go well."

While at Palmerston North Boys' High, he was struck down by tuberculosis, but nothing slows him down for long. "I've always wanted to represent the All Blacks. I used to get up at 3am when I was a young fella and watched them when they were in South Africa.

"And now I'm going to get my chance to put the black jersey on. It just means so much to me and ... my family also," he told 3 News.

Cruden, whose father Stu captained Manawatu, was one of four new caps coach Graham Henry named yesterday. Joining him were Victor Vito, Israel Dagg and Blues midfielder Benson Stanley.

Henry paid tribute to Stanley's maturity, saying he was pleased the player with All Black pedigree had pursued higher education before chasing his rugby career.

For his part, Stanley brought some wry humour to proceedings, saying his selection owed more to a war of attrition than any special talent.

The 25-year-old had been out to lunch with his wife and turned the car radio on only at his wife's assistance.

He caught the tail-end broadcast of the Maori squad and was oblivious to his All Black status until the text messages started flying in.

"It's almost like I am the last man standing," he said, referring to the injuries that have befallen the All Black midfield contenders.

"I am thankful they have put faith in me but I guess they had to put their faith in someone," he joked.