Rugby world's support for boy with cancer

Rugby player Sam was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in January

A nine-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer has received an outpouring of love and support from the rugby world.

Sam, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in January and has been undergoing chemotherapy.

Due to his illness and the treatment, the youngster had to stop playing for his beloved Congleton Rugby Club, temporarily giving up a sport he always wanted to be a part of.

After news of his diagnosis spread, and with a little help from family friends, international players started to learn of Sam's story and began sending him video messages.

They include Ollie Lawrence, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Danny Care and Sam Burgess, after whom Sam was named, his father Chris said.

"It was amazing just to watch his face light up and see that," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

Ollie Lawrence, left, was one of the players who sent a video message to Sam

Chris said players' response had helped the family, adding the first weeks since Sam's diagnosis were "chaos".

"It's just been a continuous whirlpool of different things that have been happening and things we've got to go through," he added.

"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least."

Sam has just gone through his first round of chemotherapy, his dad said, and he has lost a lot of weight in the process.

But despite "going through hell", Sam was said to be in a "better space" than he was previously, eating better and laughing with his sister.

"He's one of these lads who's extremely jovial and happy, cracking jokes and making fun of people all the time, in a good way," his dad added.

'Origin story'

As well as the video messages, Sam was also invited to watch two games at Wakefield Trinity and meet the players.

Meanwhile, Sale Sharks invited him to a training session, where he spent much of the day among the players.

Chris said Sam was treating his current struggle as his "origin story", adding: "This is him becoming that superhero at rugby."

Family, friends and Congleton Rugby Club have also raised thousands of pounds in Sam's name, with the money going towards Ronald McDonald House Charities, Young Lives Vs Cancer, Birmingham Children's Hospital and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Charity.