The Blues have rallied around Cameron Suafoa after his terminal cancer diagnosis, with coach Vern Cotter saying they are more determined than ever to lift the Super Rugby Pacific trophy.
Suafoa revealed in a social media post last week that his sarcoma – a rare cancer affecting the connective tissuein his back – is now terminal.
Although he has not been playing, Suafoa had been granted medical dispensation to remain involved with the squad in an off‑field role and was surprised when he arrived at training on Tuesday to find teammates sporting buzz cuts or dyed blonde hair in a powerful show of unity.
There was already strong motivation in the Blues camp to finish the season with a championship, with Cotter – who guided the side to the title in 2024 – and vice‑captain Dalton Papali’i among those departing at season’s end.
But Cotter believes Suafoa’s situation has only added further fuel to the fire.
“There’s a very strong awareness around, there’s a lot of empathy, and I think the players are drawing strength from it as well,” Cotter said.
“I think what they’re really focused on is making sure we go as far as we can in the season and take him with us for as long and far as we can.”
The 27-year-old was first diagnosed with sarcoma in November 2023, and he continued training and even played two matches while undergoing radiation treatment for six weeks between February and April in 2024.
Former North Harbour and Manu Samoa head coach Steve Jackson worked with Suafoa while he was coming through the ranks in the Blues’ youth system.
Jackson was back working at Harbour as an assistant and lured Suafoa to the province in 2021 after stints with Auckland and Tasman.
Speaking to the Herald, Jackson said he was shocked to hear the news and sent Suafoa a message of support.
“I’m feeling for him and shocked by the news, and I know he’ll keep fighting,” Jackson said.
Steve Jackson coached Cameron Suafoa as he came through the ranks. Photo / Photosport
“When he was first diagnosed to getting back to Blues training and getting surrounded by the boys, that’s just the type of person that he is. He wouldn’t tell you that he’s doing things tough.
“I sent him a message just to say that we’re thinking of him and let us know if there’s anything that we could do to help him out.”
Jackson said it was clear early on that Suafoa was a natural leader.
“He’s such a calm person, [he] never let anything get him down,” Jackson said. “He just embodied what it was to be a Harbour man.”
Suafoa, who was born and raised in Auckland, ended up playing 31 games for the Blues, 32 appearances for Harbour and one game for both Auckland and Tasman.
He played one game for the Māori All Blacks in 2022.
Last month, Suafoa married his long-term partner, Britt Hastings-Kutty.
The Blues are coming off a bye and will face the Hurricanes in a top-of-the-table clash in Wellington on Saturday night.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
