Robert (Robbie) Fruean has had a tough journey in his quest to play professional rugby. Having to overcome a life-threatening disease, multiple heart surgeries and a plate in one’s arm could potentially push a person past the point of no return. However, Fruean took it all in stride and is now a formidable player in the Crusaders make-up.
Rugby was always on the cards for the 26-year-old and when he made his debut for Wellington at just 19 years old, it seemed like the plan was coming together. Sadly, it was shortly after this debut that Fruean was struck by Rheumatic fever that had silently damaged his heart severely enough to require surgery. A success, the surgery meant he could slowly but surely make his return to the rugby field, conscious of the limits now imposed on his weaken heart.
Fast forward to 2010 and Robbie Fruean was a regular for the Canterbury Crusaders, a daunting powerhouse figure in the mid-field and a fan favourite. Scoring 70 points in his 61 appearances over three seasons, Fruean was a member of the formidable duo with Sonny Bill Williams from 2010-2011, a role him continued to play once Ryan Crotty arrived on the scene after Williams departure.
It was his consistence performances and reliability for the Crusaders that made his sudden departure to the Chiefs in 2014 somewhat of a surprise. With ongoing issues resulting in a second surgery in 2013, this time to replace a damaged valve, the Crusaders were not willing to offer him a full contract and instead wanted him to join the wider training group while he recovered from surgery. This added to his departure to the Chiefs who were more than willing to sign the utility back as a full member.
However, he was only able to manage four appearances for the Hamilton based team before old issues came knocking. Despite his first surgery being an immense success, Fruean himself will admit he perhaps rushed his return to rugby somewhat, and after his valve surgery in 2013, he was required to have two more surgeries in 2014 to fix an irregular heartbeat.
Fruean was eventually released from the Chiefs as a free agent at the end of the year, spending just one season with the super rugby franchise and it was a simple phone call from Crusaders assistant Coach Dave Rennie that gave Fruean his second chance with Christchurch and had him return to the team that initially took a chance with him.
2015 wasn’t smooth sailing for Fruean, but it wasn’t his heart that posed the problem. In the first month of the 2015 Super Rugby season, Fruean fractured his right arm against his old team and needed surgery to insert a plate. After five months of recovery, he has since made his return in the Crusaders, featuring in the walkover of the Hurricanes over the weekend.
Although at times it seemed that rugby may not have been his “thing”, the passion never dwindled and his desire to one day don the black jersey of the All Blacks still remains. It is safe to say that Robbie Fruean has had his dedication tested multiple times and I am one of many who are pleased it has yet to break him.
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