IRB pays tribute to Jarrod Cunningham

irb.com 26 JULY 2007

The International Rugby Board was saddened to learn that former New Zealand Maori and London Irish player Jarrod Cunningham passed away in his New Zealand home on Sunday evening after a long and brave battle against motor neurone disease.

A former All Black trialist who also played for Hawke’s Bay, Auckland Blues and Wellington Hurricanes, Cunningham had been an inspiration to others for his courage in battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis since his diagnosis in 2002.

His determination to raise awareness of his form of motor neurone disease through his foundation, the Jarrod Cunningham SALSA Foundation, saw him awarded the IRB Spirit of Rugby Award in 2004.

"The IRB sympathise with the family, team mates and friends of Jarrod Cunningham, who recently passed away," IRB Chairman Dr Syd Millar said.

"He received the IRB Spirit of Rugby Award and was a very, very worthy recipient indeed. He was inspirational in the way he dealt with his illness and contributed greatly to raising awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

"He dealt with this disease, which he had no hope of surviving, as he played the game on the field, not giving in and competing to the end. For instance, the day before he died, he officially opened refurbished club rooms at his local club, Havelock North.

"He was an inspirational man and will be sadly missed."