Leukaemia sufferer Pape Taana (10) chats to All Black and Highlanders player Malakai Fekitoa, in the children's ward at Dunedin Hospital yesterday.
His mother, Morna Taana, of Dunedin, said her son was ''rapt ... It was awesome''.
Fekitoa was among a group of Highlanders who visited the ward yesterday.
Pape was a big Highlanders fan - ''my whole family is'', Ms Taana said.
Pape was visiting the ward to receive chemotherapy.