Jarrod Cunningham facts for kids
| Date of birth | 7 September 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Hawke's Bay, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 23 July 2007 (aged 38) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 12 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Havelock North High School | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Professional Rugby Player | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Jarrod Cunningham (born 7 September 1968 – died 23 July 2007) was a talented rugby union player from New Zealand. He was known for playing as a fullback. Jarrod was born in Hawke's Bay, a region in New Zealand.
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Jarrod's Rugby Career
Jarrod Cunningham started his rugby journey playing for his local team in Hawke's Bay. He played there from 1990 to 1997. During this time, he even had a trial for the famous All Blacks team in 1993. However, he didn't make the team because of another great player, Andrew Mehrtens.
Playing in Super Rugby
Jarrod also played in the top-level Super 12 rugby competition. In 1996, he played for the Auckland Blues. After that, he joined the Wellington Hurricanes for the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Moving to England
In July 1998, Jarrod moved to England. He joined a team called London Irish in the Premiership Rugby league. He played many games for them, 82 in total. He scored 18 tries and an amazing 848 points during his time there. In the 2000-2001 season, he was the top points scorer in the league, with 324 points.
Facing a Health Challenge
In June 2002, Jarrod received some difficult news. After tests at Charing Cross Hospital, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which control muscle movement.
Helping Others with ALS
Because of his diagnosis, Jarrod had to stop playing professional rugby. But he didn't let this challenge stop him from helping others. In March 2003, he started the Jarrod Cunningham SALSA Foundation. The foundation's goal was to give hope, education, and inspiration to other people living with ALS.
His work to raise awareness about ALS was recognized. In November 2004, he received the IRB Spirit of Rugby award. This award celebrates people who show great spirit and make a positive difference in rugby and beyond.
Jarrod returned to his home in New Zealand in December 2004. He passed away at his home on 23 July 2007. His legacy continues through the foundation he started and the inspiration he gave to many.
