Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Women's Six Nations: 'If he can go through chemo, I can play 80 minutes' - Wales' Natalia John

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Thursday, 06 April 2023 10:51

Playing England at home in front of a sell-out crowd is all the motivation most Wales players need.

But second-row forward Natalia John has a more personal reason for the fire in her belly.

If selected, she will be pulling on the red jersey for her three-year-old nephew Morgan, who is battling a rare form of cancer.

"If he can go through chemo at such a young age, then I can play 80 minutes of rugby", John told BBC Sport Wales.

John had "Morgan" written on the strapping on her wrist as she made her comeback from injury in Wales' 34-22 win over Scotland in Edinburgh last Saturday.

Morgan was diagnosed around 18 months ago and recently suffered a relapse.

"He has a really rare form of cancer. I think he's like the only kid in the UK that has it - they have got doctors in America who are doing the research for it," John added.

"It sucks, but we are such a strong family that lean on each other."

John says the support from her team-mates since has also been "incredible".

Morgan got up in the middle of the night to watch "aunty Talia" play at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last October, although John admits "he doesn't quite understand the rules, he's more interested in toy cars!"

But the top-of-the-table clash with England a week on Saturday will be the first time he will see her playing in the flesh since his diagnosis.

"If me pulling on the jersey gives him a little boost, then I am going to work twice as hard to get it," John said.

"It will be a pretty emotional one to see him on the side of the pitch."

Despite Wales winning their opening two games with bonus points, John is under no illusion about the challenge posed by England, who also have a maximum 10 points from their first two matches.

A record sell-out home crowd has already been confirmed, with more than 8,000 tickets sold.

"It is going to be tough, but we are using it as an opportunity to show how much we have improved," John added.

"It is important that we just focus on us and what we can do.

"We want to play these big games, we want to perform on the big stage so to get to do it in front of our families and supporters, that love us is going to give us that extra boost on the day."

Read 170 times

Soccer

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool fought back from 2-1 down on Sunday to secure a 3-2 victo...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated