Southport rugby player's emotional return after leukaemia

Connor Ellerton says all he wanted to do was get the U18 Colts kit back on and play for the team

A teenager, who had not played rugby for three years while being treated for leukaemia, has said returning to the pitch was "emotional" as it was his "light at the end of the tunnel".

Connor Ellerton, 17, from Southport, was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.

His comeback for Southport Colts was marked with a guard of honour and standing ovation from his teammates.

He said he had been "desperate" to put the kit on again and that "lovely gesture" made it "very special".

Connor has played at Southport Rugby Football Club since he was five, while also playing at school, and he has grown up with most of the squad.

Connor says his return was "even better" because they won

"Rugby has been in my life as long as I remember," he said.

"I played almost every day and I was desperate to play again. It was my light at the end of the tunnel."

Connor said being back in the changing room was "amazing" and then walking through the tunnel with a guard of honour by both his own team and opponents Sandbach U18 Colts was a "lovely gesture".

His mother, Joanne Dennett, said Connor was treated for ear infections in the months before he was diagnosed with the blood cancer.

Connor says the guard of honour was a "lovely gesture"

He had to undergo gruelling treatment but sailed through his GCSEs - passing nine with grades A and B.

However, Ms Dennett said not being able to play rugby was tough for Connor, although he did still attend games.

"He found missing rugby the hardest thing," she said, adding that he just wanted to get back to playing with his friends.

Connor passed nine GCSEs while undergoing treatment

Now he is in remission, Ms Dennett said she did not expect the club to "make such a fuss" of Connor but they had always been supportive.

"The club is like family. They always go above and beyond.

"It was amazing - a lovely surprise."

To top off his comeback, Connor was awarded man of the match as his side beat Sandbach in the North West Colts League 26-19.

"Winning the game made it even better," he said.

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