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Benetton's touching gesture for Nasi Manu

Nasi Manu. (Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)

Nasi Manu’s Benetton teammates have displayed their support for the inspirational number eight as he battles testicular cancer.

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News of Manu’s diagnosis came in October when he shared an update on social media alerting men to self-check.

The 30-year-old had an operation at a Treviso hospital in August to remove a growth, and is currently going through chemotherapy sessions.

Benetton posted a video on social media showing the players shaving their heads in support of Manu.

“In every rugby locker room before a match, we talk about friendship, family and support. This gesture is not to let these be just rhetoric, but to show you that we are with you Nasi Manu,” the club shared in a social media post.

Manu said the gesture brought him to tears.

“Thanks to all of you for the support. When I saw the video I cried, you’re just incredible! Give me the strength to continue on this difficult road. I love you.”

Teammate Alberto De Marchi said the team finally had the chance to

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“The idea came to us spontaneously,” De Marchi explained to Corierre.

“When we heard about Nasi’s disease, we knew there would be times when the chemo was particularly hard to deal with, and so we decided we would all cut off our hair to let him know that we are rooting for him.

“We had planned to shave off our hair straight away. But then, unfortunately, the team was divided – some had international commitments, and others were in South Africa for the matches against Cheetahs and Kings. The distance made it difficult to coordinate everything, so we decided to postpone things until we got back, and that’s what happened.”

The 30-year-old won two Super Rugby titles during his time with the Crusaders and Highlanders.

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Bull Shark 59 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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