A rugby team in South Otago is proving there is more to player support and comradeship than what you do for each other on the field.
Members of the Crescent premier rugby team in Kaitangata have shaved their heads in support of a team-mate undergoing cancer treatment.
Crescent rugby coach Naylor Edwards' son and team player 20-year-old Caelib was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer a couple of months ago.
Mr Edwards said as soon as the team found out Caelib would be losing his hair because of the treatment, they all shaved their heads in solidarity at rugby practice last week.
"As soon as that was starting to happen, they were going to follow suit,'' he said. "There were a couple of clippers set to crank.''
Former team-member Lee Allan, who now plays for Kaikorai in Dunedin, also shaved his head in support.
Caelib has been unable to attend practice or even watch the rugby because of his treatment.
He only found out what the team had done when it was posted on Facebook.
"He was pretty overwhelmed,'' Mr Edwards said. "It goes to show how tight our team is.''
Mr Edwards said the diagnosis had come as a shock as Caelib was only a young guy.
The initial idea to shave their heads came from Caelib's team-mates Andrew Carruthers and Harley McHardy.
Mr Carruthers said he wanted to show the team was there for one another.
"It just shows how everyone is pretty much like a family.''
Mr Carruthers said Caelib was quite family oriented and very passionate.
"He's always here for anyone and everyone.''
He and Caelib both started playing for the Crescent rugby team about three years ago.
Mr Carruthers said Caelib had become one of the team's most valued mid-fielders.
After the players had shaved off their hair, one team member's father bought everyone warm hats to help them cope with the cold.
Instead of a fundraising page for him, Caelib said he would prefer it if people gave to CanTeen.
CanTeen youth worker Maureen Williams said it was fantastic Caelib had such amazing friends.
Donations can be made via the the CanTeen website, www.supportcanteen.org.
