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London Irish player 'remaining positive' in wake of cancer diagnosis

Dawidiuk, 30, who joined Irish in the summer, was diagnosed with the disease following his side’s pre-season friendly against Ealing Trailfinders.

Squad members and staff at London Irish are rallying behind first team player Darren Dawidiuk who is receiving treatment for testicular cancer.

Dawidiuk, 30, who joined Irish in the summer, was diagnosed with the disease following his side’s pre-season friendly against Ealing Trailfinders.

The Truro born hooker is currently undergoing chemotherapy following an operation to remove a tumour in his right testicle.

“All of the London Irish management team and the players have been extremely supportive,” said Dawidiuk.

“The messages of support that I’ve received after Nick broke the news to the lads have been overwhelming, and it’s helped me to remain positive as I continue my treatment.

“Director of rugby Nick Kennedy has been brilliant from the moment I was diagnosed, and I can’t wait to complete my treatment plan and get the green light to return to training.”

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In between his chemotherapy sessions, Dawidiuk is immersing himself in the gym and following a vegan diet to fight the disease.

“When I was diagnosed I immediately made the conscious decision to change my diet to a vegan diet to give my immune system all the nutrients it needs to help reduce and fight against the cancer cells in my body,” said Dawidiuk.

“A lot of people’s bodies are in an acidic state, which is what cancer thrives on and if you can reverse it to an alkaline state then your body is able to fight against the cancer naturally.

“The doctors have already noticed the benefits of me being on a vegan diet and they are encouraging me to keep it up and continue with my training.

“By following this diet I feel much healthier and don’t feel as bloated, which is giving me the energy to train in the gym.”

While Dawidiuk is doing everything he can to get himself back to full fitness, the front row wants to build awareness of the disease which affects thousands of men every year.

London Irish take on Dawidiuk’s former club, Gloucester, in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Kingsholm this Saturday with both clubs working together with Oddballs to raise awareness of testicular cancer to get men checking more regularly to be diagnosed sooner, which is the key to beating any cancer. Both teams will be warming up in Oddballs bobble hats and T-shirts with the message Dukey 2 on them.

London Irish will also be wearing the hats and T-shirts when they warm up ahead of their next home game on Sunday 19 November when Bath Rugby are the visitors to the Madejski Stadium.

The club will be making a donation of £4 per adult ticket and £2 per 65 and over ticket bought for the game from Tuesday 7 November onwards to the Movember Foundation which supports research into some of the biggest health issues faced by men including testicular cancer. To make a donation by buying tickets to the game, visit www.london-irish.com/tickets or call 0118 968 1016 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to noon.)

The London Irish players will also be collecting for Movember at the Bath game and a £1 donation to the Movember Foundation will be made for every 2018 London Irish calendar sold. The calendars are available from www.londonirishshop.com or in the Madejski Stadium Megastore.

And everyone can join in supporting Darren by signing up to the London Irish Movember Team and being sponsored to grow a mo or take part in a challenge. James Marshall is our Mo Captain, and you can join the team by visiting moteam.co/London-irish.

Dawidiuk, who made 144 appearances for the Cherry and Whites, says this weekend’s match at Kingsholm will be an emotional occasion for him.

“Whenever something like this happens, the rugby community rallies around and offers immense support,” said Dawidiuk.

“I’m looking forward to the game and it will be good to see some old faces down at Kingsholm.”

London Irish director of rugby, Nick Kennedy said: “Everyone at London Irish is right behind Darren at this difficult time and his health and wellbeing is the number one priority.

“Darren and his family will receive our full love and support and we are with him shoulder to shoulder every step of the way towards a full recovery.

“We are speaking to Darren regularly and the London Irish medical team are assisting him throughout his treatment.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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