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ABs take RWC trophy to cancer-stricken friend

Cape Town - Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks Dane Coles, Ma'a Nonu and Victor Vito paid a special visit to a sick friend in hospital.

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, Poneke Rugby Club member Misiluni Moananu watched the Rugby World Cup final from his hospital bed when they beat Australia 34-17 at Twickenham.

He was ecstatic that his three mates were able to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

The day after the final, Moananu - who has battled bowel cancer since July - was moved into Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington.

The All Black trio visited their friend on Monday, bringing with them the World Cup trophy.

Moananu's identical twin, Misipalauni, said that although his brother was not fully conscious, he would have been moved by the visit.

The trio stayed for about two hours, sharing stories and wishing Moananu well.

Moananu, 38, played more than 200 premier games for the Poneke club, where Coles also played.

The latest visit is not the first time the trophy has been taken to places of importance to the players.

Last week, Sport24 reported about All Black squad members Nonu, Jerome Kaino, Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam taking the Webb Ellis Cup to the grave of former player Jerry Collins, who died in a car crash earlier this year.

* Sport24 has learnt that Moananu died on Tuesday morning, a day after his All Black friends visited him.

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