Former Highlanders captain Nasi Manu diagnosed with cancer

Former Highlanders captain Nasi Manu will begin a cycle of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The 30-year-old, who plays for Italian club Benetton Treviso, has been sidelined for the past few months and had an operation in August to remove an abnormal growth.

The No 8 had blood tests last week and the club has announced the need for him to now undergo chemotherapy in the next few days.

Manu said in a statement that he was determined to win his battle against cancer and was grateful for the support he has received. "Thanks to my club, from management to teammates, I appreciate all your support," Manu said. 

"Thanks to my wife, my family and friends. I'll still have to do the last treatments before the fight can be considered over, but I know I'll succeed and I'll be back soon," Manu said.

Manu, who has a young family, also took to Twitter to urge men to check their testicles for anything unusual.

"Thank you to everyone for the messages of support," Manu wrote.

"Definitely has put a lot of things into perspective. Still a bit of a road to recovery but got the best Italy has to offer and I will make a full recovery I'm sure of it! 

"Don't be embarrassed, check your balls!"

Manu, who was born in Lincoln, played for Canterbury, the Crusaders and Highlanders during his time in New Zealand.

Canterbury lock Luke Romano, who is preparing for the team's semifinal against Tasman in Nelson on Friday night, called Manu a legend of Canterbury rugby before the team's training run on Thursday morning. 

Manu played for the red and blacks between 2007-14, winning six titles with them. 

"I was lucky enough to play a few seasons here with him. What he gives on the field is massive. He gave 120 per cent every single day, and off the field he was such a good team man," Romano said.

"Everyone loved being around him, he was always laughing, smiling and joking, so to hear something like that has happened to him. Not just my thoughts, but the thoughts of the whole Canterbury rugby community, go out to him, his wife and his little baby."

In 2015, Manu left the country to play for Edinburgh, and last year switched to Benetton Treviso.