‘Broken’: Queenstown rallies around rugby stalwart diagnosed with cancer

A Queenstown community is rallying around a much-loved rugby identity and father-of-five after he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

54-year-old Junior Apolosi, who has spent almost three decades in Queenstown, was diagnosed just under two weeks ago after initially seeking treatment for back pain.

After weeks of worsening pain and multiple visits to doctors and hospital, Apolosi underwent a CT scan on April 30, where doctors discovered cancer in his pancreas, liver and lungs.

His sister-in-law Cheryl Robertson said the diagnosis came as a complete shock to the family.

“Everyone in Queenstown is broken,” Robertson told 1News. “Junior is a big character in the community."

"He has touched most people’s lives in one way or another, whether it’s the smile or a pat on the back, or the time he takes to talk to people."

Apolosi arrived in Queenstown in 1996 and quickly became a familiar face at the Wakatipu Rugby Club, where he played Premier rugby for five of his 10 years with the club.

Following his retirement, friends say he remained part of the club’s fabric — still turning up to games, events and fundraisers long after he stopped playing.

Outside of rugby, Apolosi has also become a well-known figure in the building industry. His custom-designed truck, dubbed the Tongan Torpedo, had become a familiar sight on Queenstown roads.

“If you needed anything at all, he would drop everything to be there in a second,” Robertson said. “That’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Robertson said the local rugby community had been "significantly" affected by the diagnosis, with many of its players having grown up alongside Apolosi.

“He’s always been a part of it, even when he stopped playing. That camaraderie has really been affected," she said.

Cheryl and husband Paul Robertson recently met friends to begin organising a fundraiser, but she said they “didn’t actually get any work done” because of the constant interruptions from people wanting to offer support.

“Everywhere we go, people stop us,” she said. “He’s in everyone’s hearts and thoughts.”

Friends said Apolosi was known just as much for his larger than life personality as his rugby involvement, with longtime teammate and friend Spud Murphy describing him as someone people naturally gravitated towards.

“He’s an absolute superstar, a super top bloke who’d do anything for you," Murphy said.

"You never see him without a smile on his face. He’s so positive."

Apolosi had also been heavily involved with the local Wakatipu Waka Ama Club, supporting young athletes in the community.

His teenage daughters were recently selected to represent Tonga at the World U19 Sprint Championships in Singapore later this year. Apolosi had planned to travel with the team to Singapore in support, but will now remain home to focus on his health.

Club founder and president Francie Piacun said Apolosi had played a major role supporting young paddlers and fundraising efforts over the years.

"He’s an incredible camp dad, providing amazing food for our four junior crews three times a day for a week. He is hugely supportive," he said.

A Givealittle page has since been set up to support Apolosi, wife Kerri, and their three children aged 8, 14 and 16.

“We knew immediately we would get support from the community, but we didn’t realise to the extent how amazing it would be. It's pretty exceptional” Robertson said.

The page raised over $70,000 within 10 days.

That support extended beyond donations, with around 90 Queenstown truck drivers set to partake in a convoy procession past the family home today.

“That number in itself tells you who Junior is,” Robertson said.

A fundraising auction is also planned for June 5 at the Arrowtown Rugby Clubrooms. Robertson said the money raised will help support the family after both Apolosi and Kerri stopped working following the diagnosis.

“Both of them worked long hours to survive in Queenstown. We’re raising this money so they can survive whatever the next period looks like,” she said.

Apolosi was due to begin chemotherapy this week, with treatment aimed at slowing the cancer’s progression.

Robertson said the family remains focused on spending as much time together as possible while navigating both the shock of the diagnosis and the overwhelming level of community support.

“It’s pretty overwhelming,” she said. “How do you thank so many people?”