Above: Robbie Fruean playing for Norths in 2009 against Wainuiomata.

2007 IRB World U19 Player of the Year Robbie Fruean is a former Head Boy of Porirua College who played for his local Northern United club up to his departure to Canterbury and the Crusaders at the end of 2009.

Fruean returned home from leading New Zealand to the 2007 U19 World Cup title in Ireland to score five tries for Wellington in a pre-season provincial match. He then made his full Wellington Lions debut on the wing in at home at Westpac Stadium in the ITM Cup.

Then his world turned upside down when he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, which led to serious heart complications and then open heart surgery to replace one of his valves.

Over eighteen months later, his remarkable comeback was complete, first at club level where he came off the bench for Norths as an injury replacement in his first game back and set up two tries and then scored a hat trick himself in the very next game.

This was followed by selection in the Hurricanes side to play against the Blues in a Super 15 match. The multitalented back, capable of playing anywhere from the midfield to the wing, was then named in the Junior All Blacks squad to contest the Pacific Nations Cup in June and July 2009.

A logjam of midfield talent in Wellington meant Fruean sought red and black pastures at Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2010. His parting shot in capital colours was a dominant game in a big win for Wellington B against Canterbury B in October 2009.

Fruean had an eye catching season for the Crusaders in his first year in Christchurch and then an even more dominant 2010 ITM Cup season in which he was one of the form players of the competition. Fruean backed that up another strong 2011 season for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and for Canterbury in the ITM Cup. Partnering Sonny Bill Williams in the midfield on several occasions his powerful ball running stood out and he was hard to stop close to the tryline.

He had a similarly strong 2012 for both teams, and ended the year having helped Canterbury with their fifth consecutive ITM Cup title.