Cunningham returns to New Zealand
December 1, 2004

London Irish have announced that Jarrod Cunningham will return home to New Zealand tomorrow.

In June 2002, Jarrod (now 35) was diagnosed with ALS, a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) that brought a premature end to a great rugby career. Jarrod joined London Irish in July 1998 after a successful career playing rugby in his native New Zealand.

Over three and a half seasons he played 82 games for the Exiles scoring 18 tries and 848 points. A creative and talented out-half or full back, he was the leading points scorer in the Zurich Premiership in 1999/2000 with 324 points.

Early in 2003 Jarrod established the Jarrod Cunningham SALSA Foundation to provide hope, inspiration and education about MND/ALS and support for fellow sufferers. Jarrod was presented with the "IRB Spirit of Rugby" award at the International Rugby Board's awards ceremony in London last Sunday evening.


"I have decided to return home to my family in New Zealand for the coming summer months in the Southern Hemisphere," said Cunningham in a statement issued by London Irish.

"I would like to thank London Irish, its staff and players, and its incredible supporters for their friendship and support over the past, difficult two years. I would also like to thank the wider rugby community for all that it has done to support me. I am enormously proud to have been part of a sport with such a generous and caring spirit."

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