大象传媒

Piri Weepu won 71 international caps representing the fearsome New Zealand rugby team. He was as much loved by players, as coaches and the fans. The a year ago he suffered a stroke and discovered he had a hole in his heart. For many that would have meant an end to normal life let alone a career in rugby... but Piri is made of tougher stuff than that, he's not only recovered he's made a successful return to elite level rugby with London Welsh in the English Premiership. He's been telling the 大象传媒's Chris Jones about how he continued playing before the full extent of his illness became known.

PHOTO: Piri Weepu of the All Blacks performs the Haka during quarter final four of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup (CREDIT: Hannah Peters-Pool/Getty Images)